Looking for first setup

[TampShawn]

Hello all I am Shawn

I am glad to meet you all. I have been spending years as a lurker on various sites, blogs, and youtube channels learning from you all and preparing lists of ideas. Thank you all for sharing your information and advice. It really is inspirational and helpful.  

I spend a decent amount of time sleeping in the desert and am looking to set up my first rig that I can use as my city vehicle and for camping, traveling and maybe living in. 

I am currently driving a beater of a car and the repairs needed cost more than the car. I am working now and hope to for the next 10-15 years, but I have some health issues and love to travel and am not sure what will happen in the future.  Looking for a vehicle that will last 20 years, I can sleep and sit up in (5'9") and has higher ground clearance than the average car. 

Right now I am thinking of the 2017 Honda CRV (higher ground clearance than before and I can sleep and sit up in it - 2017 was redesigned and meets these requirements for the first time). Have already posted on one of the forums about that.

Need something small for the inner city and my garage at the moment, the low ceiling means vans etc are out. Also need to figure out a solar set up. I have a CPAP ( a medical device that helps me breathe at night) and am on the PC all day right now for work. Will be reviewing solar blogs. Just starting to learn the pieces there

Thank you all. Any advice let me know

 

[Dgorila1]

Looking for a vehicle that will last 20 years, then you'll probably want to consider a new car or one only a year or two old. A minivan has the size you want and will fit in a normal garage but lacks any major ground clearance. You could gain a little clearance with larger rims and tires. I've had 2 Nissan Quest minivans that were reliable as heck and would buy another if I was looking. The Honda Odyssey vans have great reliability ratings too.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Shawn!

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.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard Shawn!
A CRV is doable , just have to live minimal.
As far as a 2017 lasting 20 years,,,,,maybe ???

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums  

Loads of info for you here to learn with and good folks to mentor you.   I've always been a Van person myself
and haven't done much camping in the desert sands.   I'm sure that those who have will be of help to you all the same.

 

[DLTooley]

Trucks and vans are built tougher but at the expense of gas mileage SUVs are a good option. My 2000 Ranger with a 3 liter 6, bought new, is going on 300k and gets 20 mpg.

I use a cpap as well, without a humidifier. A 50 watt solar panel and a walmart deep cycle in a trolling motor batter box works great. I did use the guarantee on the battery getting everything right.

 

[TampShawn]

Trucks and vans are built tougher but at the expense of gas mileage  SUVs are a good option. My 2000 Ranger with a 3 liter 6, bought new, is going on 300k and gets 20 mpg.

I use a cpap  as well, without a humidifier. A 50 watt solar panel and a walmart deep cycle in a trolling motor batter box works great. I did use the guarantee on the battery getting everything right.

Thank you for the CPAP info. I was looking at the 100 watt solar panel kits and someone said that a 100 watt would not power the CPAP. I did not think that was right. I will look into the trolling motor batter box. I see for $10 there is even a container you can put that in.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

If you're {or anyone else doing a search on the Quests) ĺooking at Nissan Quests, don't look at the models from 1995. Hubby managed to break TWO oil pans driving on dirt roads.

Since then, he's fine with me doing the driving off asphalt

We had an '08 Honda Odyssey that would go anywhere. I traded it in for a pickup and missed it greatly. Currently have a Nissan NV hightop cargo van.

 

[DLTooley]

Thank you for the CPAP info. I was looking at the 100 watt solar panel kits and someone said that a 100 watt would not power the CPAP. I did not think that was right. I will look into the trolling motor batter box. I see for $10 there is even a container you can put that in.

My Respironics is 12v native and 3 amps or 36 watts. It does take a custom cigarette lighter cable which is around $30. The trolling motor box is the Minnkota. Besides the panel you will need a controller and cabling. 100 watt panels are the most common but my 50 works fine for my needs which are phone and small battery charging. A laptop used for extended time would be taxing. The double golf cart battery setup is more durable and has more storage. It is a good project.