looking for insperation

[VJG1977]

<p class="MsoNormal">Hi,&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; ">New to the forum, I am in the early stages of planning.&nbsp; I currently have a 2002 Nissan Quest in which I make 2 or 3 trips a year.&nbsp; I’m in Tennessee and have family in Alabama, North Carolina and Missouri.&nbsp; Trips now are between 6 and 12 hour drives each way and includes 3 or 4 nights in a hotel.&nbsp; I came across this site while looking for info on stealth parking.&nbsp;&nbsp; Short-term goals are to out-fit this van for these trips without any hotel stops and maybe add some more 3-4 day weekend outings. &nbsp;As I get closer to retirement I plan on getting a bigger van or RV.</span>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome, VJG <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">There are lots of things you can do to make your Nissan Quest more comfortable for your travels.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">For instance, here is a link to one persons solution to touring in a car and avoiding motels.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/priusliving.html" target=_blank>http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/priusliving.html</a></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Check out other conversions for more ideas you can adapt to your own vehicle.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>

 

[yesican]

<p>Howdy VJG...you'll find lots of tips from great people.&nbsp; Good luck in your quest. Rae</p>

 

[judycmomx6]

<P>Hey VJG, glad you found us. Anything you need to know, just ask, someone will be able to help.</P>

 

[Les H]

Hi and welcome from another "mid south easter", I'm in Alabama, about 30 miles from Chattanooga Tn.
We are having a week long get to gather ( GTG) in the Cherokee Natl forest near Ducktown and Copperhill at the tumbling creek free campsite. Mabye you can make it?

 

[VJG1977]

<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for the welcome.</p><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">I’ve had several days of reading post about: stealth parking, boon docking, car, van and RV living.&nbsp;&nbsp;I’ve realized that I can have a little stealth, comfort and privacy with the van I have.&nbsp;&nbsp;Removing the rear seats from the Nissan leaves a 4 ft. by 6 ft. 4 in. floor to work with.&nbsp;&nbsp;A platform along the wall behind the driver’s seat will be a bed.&nbsp;That will have room for an ice chest and storage underneath.&nbsp;&nbsp;Blackout curtains will give me some privacy. If I can find room for a house battery, I’d like to include a 700-watt microwave with an inverter.&nbsp;&nbsp;I already have a jump-start battery pack and small inverter to run my laptop. Until I retire, my primary goal is to save money while traveling to a relative’s house.&nbsp;&nbsp;By sleeping in my van 2 or 3 nights on a trip I can offset the high gas price. &nbsp;</span>

 

[nitason]

<P>welcome!&nbsp; are you going to post pics of your conversion of your car?</P>

 

[Les H]

Just a word of caution, a 700 w microwave will drain a house battery quick without a way to recharge it.such as wired into the starting battery so it will be charged while driving. It will need about a 1200w inverter, and it's recommended to run the engine so as to not damage the battery by discharging it too much.
Lots of good electrical info in the FAQ section, and on the forum parent site, Cheaprvliging.com

 

[Seraphim]

Welcome to the tribe. Close to retirement myself, and looking forward to it.

 

[VJG1977]

<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sorry no pictures yet, I’ve only removed the center bucket seats so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was surprised by how heavy they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The rear seat slides and I haven’t figured out how to remove it yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I know it is very heavy; the seats being removed may offset the weight of the conversion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I may have to lift the carpet to see the entire track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If I do that I’ll put down 1/2” ridge foam insulation topped with hard wood laminate flooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></font></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I do a lot of my design work in Excel; I’ll try to attach a file.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></font></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">As for running the microwave, I plan to cook at home before I leave on my trips and just use it for a few minutes to reheat meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>That way I can run the engine for a short time without using a lot of gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Les H, glad you mentioned that I would need a larger inverter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I had planned on a 1100watt that I saw on-line but will keep my eye out for a good deal on a larger one.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">For hot water I was looking at using a 12V immersion heater in a stainless steel thermos bottle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Mounted safely I could heat the water while driving. I found a drip coffee maker that is just a carafe w/ a funnel shaped basket on top to hold the grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You just slowly pour hot water into the top. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I am sure I could do the same thing with material on hand. An insulated carafe with a kitchen funnel and homemade bracket to hold them together should work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I have to have my morning coffee.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">On both the North Carolina and Tennessee Department of Transportation web pages, they stated that overnight parking was prohibited at rest areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>NC even stated there was a 2 hour limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was wondering how strictly this is enforced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Do you think a stealth minivan with no obvious signs of camping could get by?</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">I came across a few good links while looking for places to stop along I40 between Nashville, TN and Raleigh, NC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A google search for any town name + parking will usually bring up city parking regulations somewhere on the first page.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.downtownknoxville.org/visitors/parking" target="_blank" target=_blank><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.downtownknoxville.org/visitors/parking</font></a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ashevillenow.com/about/parking/" target="_blank" target=_blank><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.ashevillenow.com/about/parking/</font></a><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Greensboro_NC/topics/182171" target="_blank" target=_blank><font color="#0000ff">http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Greensboro_NC/topics/182171</font></a></p></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.campingandrving.com/gypsy_journal_free_parking.htm" target="_blank" target=_blank><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.campingandrving.com/gypsy_journal_free_parking.htm</font></a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://rvhickory.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" target=_blank><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://rvhickory.wordpress.com/</font></a></p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p>