My Introduction

[forcecarrier]

 I like the armoured car suggestion, especially if you painted it flat black you could blend in with hubcaps like the LA SWAT team. I am not sure it would stand out anymore then a brand new black government looking van with bars on all the windows. Your biggest hassle when trying to be stealth will likely be LEOs so if you don't blend in then you are standing out. May I suggest plate steel as interior panelling a gun turret that pops out between the solar panels, and vents on all sides large enough to get a scope out of. Welcome  

... Seriously?

 

[forcecarrier]

A concealed carry permit gives you the right to carry a loaded gun in 36 states--get one in multiple states to have the most states possible.

A couple of books that list the states gun laws are:

http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Laws-State-Reciprocity-Reference-ebook/dp/B00RNG34Y8/

http://www.amazon.com/United-States-Travelers-Firearm-Paperback/dp/0972548963/

You can also buy smartphone apps listing each states gun laws.

Thank you very much for the info, Bob.

Obsessive fear and cleanliness are not normal for human beings, they are a by-product of civilization over the last 5000 years and are pounded into you from your birth by your parents, schools, customs and the media.

Fearful people are generally easier to control and manipulate so it's encouraged. In the USA, we are the safest people who have ever lived on the planet, and yet we are also one of the most fearful. It's nearly all an illusion.

Hopefully, as you transition to being a full-timer, some of the fears will fall away and you'll relax a bit. I know that happened for me. I carry a .357 magnum and have never even been close to using it in 13 years of full-timing. But, I'm still very glad I have it. When something goes bump in the night sometimes I wrap my hand around the grip and feel better. But that's rare.

Fear has nearly completely disappeared from my life; I wish the same for you.
bob

Obsessive is a perspective you are projecting on to me Sir. We could go on and on about the many reasons to reject social nomos and the stupidity of Abrahamic traditions. That is not my issue whatsoever. My parents, my education, and the media, have nothing to do with my personal standards of being prepared or being clean, and have much more to do with having lived on the streets as a kid, having been in street gangs, and having witnessed many of my young friends who joined the Service, only to have the American Government destroy their lives by sending them off to war as children, and then abandoning them as crazy people who had to fight in court for years in order to get only a small percentage of the care they were told thedy recieve if wounded. Perhaps you might research a bit about the police abusing their authority, or the Service abusing their authority, or the corporations feeding the public poison, or the corporations altering nature in order to control its seed, or corporations buying the legal system in order to control the law. Look around my friend, If America is the safest place to be, its only because we live with the meanest and wealthiest gangsters of all. So yeah, don't condescend me. I am not a man in fear. I am a man who is ready. Prepers, they call us.

 

[forcecarrier]

Some of the most decent, good hearted, generous people I've known have been what you are considering to be "dirty people in old beat up vans, with messy hair and strange clothes". I met a fellow once, rather disheveled. I assumed he was down and out. Turns out he was an internationally renowned photographer that worked for National Geographic. Lesson learned.

Your point is weel taken, I just cant get my head around, having the means to, but not, taking care of your body and your environment. When I see a home and there is trash and wrappers and filth laying about, I just gag, and think to myself "PICK IT UP, IT WOULD TAKE FIVE MINUTES! PICK IT UP!" If you can be clean and trimmed, why not be? I guess its a personal issue, but I don't agree that a desire to be clean is obsessive or fearful. Cats are clean too, are they subject to some social thing? lol. Different strokes I guess. Its like the weirdo scientist that can split an atom, but he cant mannage to drag a comb through his hair. What is that? lol?

Don't judge the book by it's cover. Vandwellers are a helpful bunch, and run the gamut from "rust buckets" to high end rides. What we all share is the love of the road and the freedom it gives. We are all one tribe. When you have car trouble and one of those dirty people offers to help, don't assume they are wanting to rob you. What Bob said about fear is very true. Once you're out on the road, I think a lot of your worry will fade away.
Welcome.

This is all very true. I can only hope that in my adventures, they will be equally as accepting of my standards, as I try to be of theirs.

 

[akrvbob]

Knowing more about your background makes it easier for me to understand your feelings. Had I grown up on the streets and around gangs I probably would want bars on the windows of my van too. I've never served in the military, but I'm sure that would change me deeply.

My only hope is that you'll see that as you leave those bad experiences behind, the fear and caution that served you so well there may in fact work against you in your new life. Maybe it's time to consider a different way? Hopefully you can be in places where you'll be safe.

It's true my first year living in a van I was on edge and every sound startled me and set me on edge. But after awhile of nothing bad ever happening I slowly relaxed, then when I moved onto public land all the fear and stress simply left me. There is almost nothing to fear here. For that I am very grateful!

Nothing wrong with being a prepper! I have 6 months of freeze dried food in the van and 1000 rounds of ammo for my AR-15.

But there are no bars on my windows and until TSHTF, I have virtually no fear.
Bob
Bob

 

[flying kurbmaster]

... Seriously?

not at all serious I was having you on, getting back to your original post, 40,000 dollars is a lot of money to get  together from scratch. It is not a bad idea to have a decent rig, if building a rig is your main priority by all means keep working towards the 40,000 it shouldn't take you more then 2 to 4  years if you have a good job. The grilled windows, black van, looking like a nark would probably work in dangerous neighbourhoods, I suspect police would be suspicious /curious of such a set up. Because you are mobile  you have options not to be there so if you are anywhere else I think this will work against you. I for one would avoid such an image. If getting out on the road or starting to live in a van you can do it, have a very tidy looking, reliable, safe, stealth vehicle for under 10'000. If security is an issue for you, maybe you could consider a van with no windows, build a lockable partition wall and add small windows that people can't crawl through, or put the grills on the inside. You could still ventilate, see out of and let light lite in. As far as gun laws I can't help you there I have never carried a gun nor have I ever thought it would have been handy. There are a few preppers on this forum I am not one. I find the whole idea a bit paranoick. I understand the concept and don't poopoo it, just  saying I don't have the energy to buy into it, having said that I do keep several months worth of food,  If you are researching building a van, or where you can go once built there is a lot of information on this forum, have fun and we like pictures to see how you are doing. good luck.

 

[forcecarrier]

It's true my first year living in a van I was on edge and every sound startled me and set me on edge. But after awhile of nothing bad ever happening I slowly relaxed, then when I moved onto public land all the fear and stress simply left me. There is almost nothing to fear here. For that I am very grateful!

If you have written on this in detail, Id love a link to it. if you have not written on this experience, you certainly should.

Nothing wrong with being a prepper! I have 6 months of freeze dried food in the van and 1000 rounds of ammo for my AR-15. But there are no bars on my windows and until TSHTF, I have virtually no fear.
Bob

I knew I was going to like you, lol.

 

[forcecarrier]

not at all serious I was having you on,

Any time. I get too up-tight sometimes, so feel free to put me in check with a clever mockery or joke. I can take myself too seriously. Im sorry.

getting back to your original post, 40,000 dollars is a lot of money to get  together from scratch. It is not a bad idea to have a decent rig, if building a rig is your main priority by all means keep working towards the 40,000 it shouldn't take you more then 2 to 4  years if you have a good job.

My job is ok. I'm not sure how long it will take me to save up. Its funny really, because part of my desire to become a VanDweller is to get off the grid and out of the whole money game. VanDwelling cost nearly nothing compared to a house, land, several cars, a wife, and all that jazz. But you need a ton of money to get away from it too.

The grilled windows, black van, looking like a nark would probably work in dangerous neighbourhoods, I suspect police would be suspicious /curious of such a set up. Because you are mobile  you have options not to be there so if you are anywhere else I think this will work against you. I for one would avoid such an image.

You know, you make a good point there. I have also thought about going for a work-van look. What do you think?

If getting out on the road or starting to live in a van you can do it, have a very tidy looking, reliable, safe, stealth vehicle for under 10'000.

Under 10,000??? Really? For everything?

If security is an issue for you, maybe you could consider a van with no windows, build a lockable partition wall and add small windows that people can't crawl through, or put the grills on the inside. You could still ventilate, see out of and let light lite in.

Indeed, I have saw many nice vand with very few windows. I like them very much. As for the wall, it would have to have a door, because I want access to the living area without having to get out of the van, and getting back in. I do want the grill on the inside of the windows. Ill be thinking of cameras too, inside and out. I want cameras outside so I can look around without getting out, and I want cameras inside so I can make videos and blogs about my adventures.

 

[MikeRuth]

I have to comment on the cameras as they made me think about what the repo business is doing these days.
They have cars setup now with 4 to 6 cameras that are actually license plate readers and they go around hot spots like malls etc, anywhere for that matter looking to get a hit on a vehicle that is slated for repo. I happened across one a while back, funny I was staring the guy down at a stop light and he rolls the window downs and says something wrong? I said nope but damn it's sure obvious your a repo man! lights change and away we went, I think he was surprised that I knew what he was doing.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

The single best source of information on concealed carry reciprocity, traveling with firearms, etc., is http://www.handgunlaw.us/.

It can be a very confusing subject.  For example, while Texas issues non-resident carry permits, they also recognize a number of permits from other states, including my home state.  So I don't need a Texas non-resident permit to carry there.

On the other hand, New Mexico doesn't issue non-resident permits, and doesn't recognize any permits I currently have, including Florida and Utah.  But they DO recognize Texas permits, so I will end up acquiring a Texas permit just for use in New Mexico.

And Colorado recognizes a number of other states permits, but ONLY if you are a resident of that state.  Non-resident permits aren't valid there.

Some states will handle a non-resident permit by mail.  Others require you to appear and apply in person.  Some require you to take a course in-state.

And on and on and on . . .

Regards
John

PS:  I would recommend you also check out http://armedcitizensnetwork.org/