My 1996 Dodge Ram Van

[Lucy]

Ugh, I'm getting tired of the prep stage, I want to get this going.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>My biggest holdup right now is that I have a car to sell before I can go. I lost the title, so had to jump through hoops to get a replacement sent, and it takes like ten weeks. I'm on week nine now, hoping against hope it's a little early. It shouldn't take me long to sell the car, I had it listed on CL and got a bunch of hits and a couple of offers before realizing I couldn't find the title.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I can donate everything else I haven't sold yet without hurting if I want to, but the car is 5k in cash to go towards funding my new life. I'm just so tired of checking the mail every day hoping I can get things going already.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Still, I'm working on things little by little. I've been spending the last couple of weeks focusing on buying supplies. I want a decent supply of food and bathroom stuff in the van before I set out, and I'm settling on toilet and stove choices.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I bought some tan blackout curtains for the windows. I decided that I'd simplify the insulation and privacy, so I fixed the windowpanes with velcro and cut the curtains to fit, and then cut out the reflectrix and just stapled it to the inner borders of the curtains. So when they're up I get the privacy and temperature control, but I can take them down in a snap whenever I need to.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I also bought mosquito screen, and for the smaller windows that open without screens I cut out the screen to fit and added the same kind of velcro. So now I can put up those instead of the blackout curtains if I want a fresh breeze. Pretty simple stuff, I guess, but I'm proud of these little projects.&nbsp;</div>

 

[gp]

<P>Looks very nice, Lucy.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></P>

 

[Simran]

Lucy,<br>Hope you get the title soon. I like the idea of stapling reflectix to the back of the curtains; very utilitarian. The screens will be a&nbsp; nice touch; I have them in mine and an evening breeze is Oh so inviting and comforting.<br><br>gus<br><br>

 

[Lucy]

The van was pretty toasty today when I went out there to move some things. Not normal-parked-car toasty, but warmer than I want it to be. I figured out pretty fast that heat was coming from the front seats. I had one of those reflective emergency blankets in with my camping supplies, so I tacked it to the back of the divider curtain so that the front seat heat should stay in the front seat. Here's hoping. In the interest of stealth I don't want to put reflectix or curtains in the front seat windows, but I do have a windshield screen. I'll bring that out if it stays stuffy in there.<div><br></div><div>Also, call me crazy but I didn't imagine how dark it would be in the back with the curtains up. I have plenty of little lights (I bought a set of those adhesive battery-operated press-lights that they have on TV, just stick it up and click it on), I just need to get some put up sooner than I thought.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I'm getting more excited/nervous every day. &nbsp;<br><div><br></div></div>

 

[travelingchic]

Lucy I am jealous. &nbsp;I love how the back seat flips down and makes a bed! That is so handy since you didn't then have to make your own bed. &nbsp;Perfect. &nbsp;I love how spacious it is and I agree with swiveling the front passenger seat for an additional chair would be a great idea to add space. &nbsp;It's looking great. &nbsp;I like how your van has windows. &nbsp;It will be lovely when you are parked near nice scenery when you wake up in the morning with the light streaming through. &nbsp;Great start! &nbsp;I'm glad you are feeling good about the mechanics.

 

[Lucy]

My title for my current car finally came in the mail today! I threw that listing up on Craigslist so fast it made my keyboard smoke. &nbsp;<div><br></div><div>This is the last big thing I'm waiting on. Sell the car, get a humble nest egg to finance the trip, and as soon as that's done I'm only left with the little things. I'm organizing all my storage and things inside my condo, so that once I'm read to go I can take the plastic shells out to the van, arrange them the way I want, fasten them down, and then just bring out the drawers already loaded and slide them into place.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I am SO close. Which is good, I did want to have at least a <i>week</i> of travel under my belt before I show up at the RTR acting like I know something about something.</div><div><br></div><div>Whoo! I'll put up more pics once I've got things loaded in. I can already tell it will be a little bit more cramped than I first thought, but who cares? It's almost done!&nbsp;</div>

 

[Lucy]

Alright, I sold my car this morning, and suddenly I have to figure out what I'm going to do with the wad of cash I've saved by selling the car plus furniture, etc. I've read the differing opinions on whether it's safe or smart to carry cash, and I'm still formulating my strategy. I prefer not to mess with credit or bank accounts, since I am so irresponsible when it comes to keeping track of balances and everything.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>I got one of those Green Dot visa cards from Walmart, I think I'll load up most of my money on there. I like it because it's a prepaid, so there's no exceeding limits and overdrafting, and also if I lose it or it gets stolen all I have to do is go online and report it and request a new one.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I've also been planning my route when I leave here in the next week or two. I figure I'll head for the Sierras for the RTR, and after that I'm still figuring it out. I joined Loners on Wheels for a year, and their place in NM seems to have a lot of convenience for cheap. Come wintertime I want to check out Slab City. I love the idea of the place, I think it'd be a nice hangout for a while. Trash and all doesn't bother me. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I'm so close now! It's unnerving. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Time to load up the van and get everything arranged.&nbsp;</div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Congrats on the quick sale of the car, Lucy.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Not much holding you back now. Sounds like you are pretty much on top of things.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Good Luck and GodSpeed,</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Yeehaa...Go girl...I'm excited for ya!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[cargovanconversion]

<p>Congratulations and have fun!</p><p>Van</p>