On the Road Soon

[lterry]

Hi all. I'm Lisa and I'll be living out of my van starting June next year (if I can wait t. I'm from Florida yet live just across the Alabama state line at the moment. I have a 1990 Roadtrek Independent, and I'm currently making little improvements.

 

[janncoo]

Welcome!  You are on the right forum to help you with any questions you have on van life.  Jan

 

[TMG51]

Welcome. Did you have the Roadtrek or did you buy it to get into this lifestyle?

 

[lterry]

I bought it! Can you tell I'm proud for making the leap? My family thinks I'm crazy, but I don't care - I'm finally going to do this.

 

[lterry]

Welcome!  You are on the right forum to help you with any questions you have on van life.  Jan

Thanks for the welcome

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome to the tribe !

Now , you know that if you're doing modifications , you will have to share them with us.. Let me be the first to say "we like pictures"!!

 

[Queen]

Welcome, you found the best corner of the internet for learning the ropes and finding like minded folks.

 

[ryegal]

I bought it! Can you tell I'm proud for making the leap? My family thinks I'm crazy, but I don't care - I'm finally going to do this.

Welcome and #1 you are not crazy. My family is split some are OK with it and some aren"t oh well it is my life and I feel much safer out on the road than in Seattle. I am older but I have had the gypsy in my soul since I was young, Now it is my turn. I am a good girl and check in often. So follow your dream. welcome and post often this is a great group of people, :heart:

 

[Cammalu]

What have you done inside? Improvements? Where are the photos? Why the road trek over other brands?

 

[lterry]

Welcome to the tribe !

Now , you know that if you're doing modifications , you will have to share them with us.. Let me be the first to say "we like pictures"!!

So far I haven't done any modifications really. Mostly just trying to repair things. It's a 1990 and didn't receive the best care in the world. Not abuse but it just wasn't parked in a garage when not in use.  I can't complain as I only paid $2500 and the transmission was rebuilt which with is this particular model's downfall. 
The current fixes are: both of the top windows leak and the lever to swivel the passenger chair is broken.
I thought I had an exhaust leak as my CO2 detector kept going off while going down the road, but after reattaching the door to the generator, it stopped. (The previous owner had it off for whatever reason). Yes, it came with a running generator. Handy, right? I probably need to change the oil on it, though. SO much to learn!

 

[lterry]

Welcome and #1 you are not crazy. My family is split some are OK with it and some aren"t oh well it is my life and I feel much safer out on the road than in Seattle. I am older but I have had the gypsy in my soul since I was young, Now it is my turn. I am a good girl and check in often. So follow your dream. welcome and post often this is a great group of people, :heart:

That's great about your family. My sister wasn't surprised in the least. She says, "You're such a hippie." Except marijuana doesn't agree with my constitution, hehe. Other than that, you can call me a hippie all day.
It's funny about the gypsy soul - I was tinkering with the idea of naming my rig Gypsy...maybe not the most creative but appropriate  
Alas, I think I'll keep searching for an apt name.

 

[highdesertranger]

you know we need more pics off all this, lol. anyway I don't think I ever gave you a welcome, so hello you have landed in the right place. highdesertranger

 

[lterry]

What have you done inside?  Improvements?  Where are the photos?  Why the road trek over other brands?

I have done no improvements whatsoever. I'd repair the leak in my overcab windows if the rain would ever stop. Rain in the southeast...what can I say?
So with that delayed I've tried taking out my front passenger seat because the swivel lever is broken and I want to see how I can either replace the lever or rig up something equal to it. Yet I can't get the sucker off. I'm not very big and my 17 year old daughter is even less help. At a grand ole 94 lbs, I'm positive that she weighs less than the seat.

Why I chose the Roadtrek. When I first began looking into hitting the road on a permenant basis, I thought a camper van was the thing for me. But they were so expensive! For me anyway. I kept dreaming, though, and I found my dream van/layout in the Roadtrek Versatile or Independent. I wanted a bed for me, and another two, if not nearly as comfortable beds, for my daughters if they should be so inclined to take a trip or two with me. Roatrek V or I had the two additional seats behind the driver and passenger seats that made twin(ish) beds. An added bonus, we could all sit in the same area belted in rather than one of us having to sit in the back at a dinette or something (typical design on other camper vans). Also, I was happy with the "bathroom" setup. I didn't like other designs where so much space was given to the bathroom when that's the area you'll spend the least amount of time - take the Coachman for instance. The entire back of the van is the bathroom. With the Versatile or Indepedent, the minitub and toilet are tucked away in a closet of sorts.

See the coffee table looking thing behind the seat on the left? That's actually the tub when not in bathroom mode. The great part about it is that there's no drain in the middle of the hall. It's still a contained tub with it's own drain. An interesting detail about the tub area - it's also a closet. It's a two-piece door set on two different sets of hinges. When you open the door to the shower, there is a clothes rack for hangers. That comes away on hinges, swings over the back area, and there's your shower.

 

[lterry]

you know we need more pics off all this,  lol.  anyway I don't think I ever gave you a welcome,  so hello you have landed in the right place.  highdesertranger

LOL, You ask and you shall receive. I was actually in the process of posting some.

 

[lterry]

Welcome, you found the best corner of the internet for learning the ropes and finding like minded folks.

Thanks you for the welcome. It's SO refreshing to see so many "travelers" that have many of the same ideas as I do.

 

[rvpopeye]

Wow , those Roadtreks are pricey and what you paid is about what a tranny rebuild costs so you got the rest for free . Great deal !!
Leaks can be sealed and the seat swivel can be replaced if not repaired.
Lots of mechanically inclined folks here that will surely have some ideas .
If you make it to RTR , you'll probably get help too !
I hope you and the girls have a great time with it .
PS loved the pictures.

 

[lterry]

Wow , those Roadtreks are pricey and what you paid is about what a tranny rebuild costs so you got the rest for free . Great deal !!
Leaks can be sealed and the seat swivel can be replaced if not repaired.
Lots of mechanically inclined folks here that will surely have some ideas .
If you make it to RTR , you'll probably get help too !
I hope you and the girls have a great time with it .
PS loved the pictures.

My current dream is to get to RTR. I'm still stationary, though, with my job and family. My youngest daughter is a senior in high school - she'd still be in school, so she couldn't come with me, and her father is out of the country until this time next year. So, if I can't go there's always the next one.
I saw that there was one in Florida that looks a little more doable, though I'd only go after Christmas. However, as I'm reading the thread...it all looks Greek to me. The acronyms are lost on me and the terms being used - I'm lost. So, I'm just lurking until things begin to make sense.
But I do wish I knew what a "vault" was...hm.

 

[highdesertranger]

this guy is about to find the vault.



highdesertranger

 

[lterry]

this guy is about to find the vault.



highdesertranger

I don't see any floaties - I hope he can swim 

 

[rvpopeye]

HDR great timing with that cartoon ! Loved it !

I now need to explain that the actual vaults are named so because of the concrete tank that they are built on ......Terry ask about any acronyms you are curious about so we can find funny ways to explain them , so much fun .

Now , I wander if Mr. Loo Read is an acronym too ??????



OK , about your window leaks .
Whatever you do , don't use silicone , it will eventually leak and NOTHING will stick to it , even more silicone.
I have had great results with some stuff I got at the local lumber yard . It is called Geocell Pro Flex. ($21) It comes in a quart can , looks like clear honey , brush it on , cleans up with paint thinner.
I gave my cab over windows as well as other roof penetrations a few coats around the seams (the edge of the window and the edge that contacts the shell ) and am now a happy, and much drier camper !
They also make a tube version for caulking guns , not sure how well that works though.