Newbie from Virginia

[idrankwhat]

Hello, G'day, Hola, Jambo!
I'm a newbie here of course. In Virginia.
I'm looking at semi retirement or maybe even full retirement, if this experiment in living goes well. 
I'm tired of the corporate life.
Here is what I'm looking at doing, and what I think would work for me.
Full size van would be good for me, not sure about an extended van or not.
4x4 with high clearance for some back country.
Like to work, but I do not want a 40 hour work week.
I do volunteer search and rescue and would like to have it at the ready even when I'm not camping.
Don't want something too old as to need a lot of maintenance. What is a good year that it would be in good shape but has lost most of its depreciation?
The high top vans I assume are less stealthy and harder to find.
Maybe later I can even get a travel trailer that could be towed behind a van if I want to have a larger place later.
Looking forward to any ideas and any advice I can get.
Currently reading the read first posts then going to be looking at the van living sections.

 

[tazatwar]

Hi I'm in VA too Wood bridge 22192 . pretty much in same boat as you . trying to buy some sort of RV cheap and fast . lol . hope you get back to me and we can go into more detail . Taz

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have a good plan! I saw a while back a post about fire fighters, so you could probably do that while traveling!

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome idrankwht and tazatwar to the CRVL forums! 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. wow 2 welcomes in one thread. highdesertranger

 

[idrankwhat]

@Tazatwar I'm near Lynchburg. Actually a pretty good ways away from where you are. But once I get a van going. I think many places will seem much closer then.

 

[ArtW]

It seems to be really difficult (and expensive) to find true 4x4 vans, good luck with that
If you can't find one, maybe a 4x4 pickup with s pop up camper would work? just an idea

 

[idrankwhat]

It seems to be really difficult (and expensive) to find true 4x4 vans, good luck with that
If you can't find one, maybe a 4x4 pickup with s pop up camper would work? just an idea

Good information. I think Bob mentioned something about a locking rear differential that locks the two rear wheels for about a grand. That might be the better way to go and just be sure I get a high clearance vehicle.

 

[Wabbit]

Hi idrankwhat and welcome. I like those van+cargo trailer setups. I think Bob parks his trailer for summer and just does his van while making rounds. Then after his summer loop, he picks it back up and finds his spots for winter. Don't quote me on that, just the impression I got when reading his posts\blog. Best of luck to ya!

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard !
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect rig.....
Hope you figure out what yours is and find a goodun.
Bazeeeeenya!

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums    

You may start out in a basic short Van with regular top and go from there.  No shortage of these and the pricing of used ones will be competitive.   I have now an extended High Top which is like Heaven to me.   But when I was a College kid the short low roof Van I had was a delight to be in.    I just have to be much more careful where and how I drive it when there are trees with low branches or any overhead obstructions below 9 ft clearance.

You can start with a basic Van and travel some in it and build your ideas from there.  I have two websites below where the first is about fixing up an empty cargo Van with a page on fixing up a cargo Trailer as the last page.  This is more of an advanced strategy for being on the road for a long time. 

The second is a Portal of useful info for those in this lifestyle to help them plan their journeys before going on them....or.....navigate their next moves once they are out on the road and away from their former homes.

One of the nice things about fitting out a simple Van as I've shown is the interior could be pulled out of it quickly to return it to a cargo Van if you should need it as such,  and then just as quickly restore the interior to it so it will be a Camper again.   If there is a Storage Building near by,  you could rent a small storage space  4 X 8 for cheap to put the interior in for safe keeping. 

In my early corporate years I towed a small economy car behind my Van as I moved around Divisions often.  I was single and the "married with family" just didn't want to live out of suitcases.   I got stuck with this until I wised up and turned it to my advantage.  Then I was getting  the raises and promotions the "married" set thought was their entitlement.  Yes I got sick of Corporatism too and left it.  But that's another story. 
(but to sum it up:  "rats don't swim toward sinking ships"....which the wage slave corporate rat race is)

 

[ArtW]

A rear locker would be my choice, it'll get you most places 4WD will, and back, if you don't get too crazy

 

[dr_nelson]

Welcome and greetings from SC!