Serving God & Country...

[TheBlackLatin]

After 20 years of active military service (Air Force & Army) and 3 combat tours, I've decided to do what I've been entertaining about for the past three years...living out of a van!

So, I bought a 2000 Chevrolet Express 1500 (with a hi-top) and gutted it out (to the metal, including all pax seating) over the weekend with my own two hands and some power tools.

The following weekend, I had limo tint installed on all rear windows and the darkest legal tints that TX allows on the windshield, pax and driver side windows. Finally, through the week, I began setting up the items that I had acquired to start my transition to van living:

1. Disco-O-Bed Cam-O-Bunk XL
- 2 footlockers
- 1 cabinet

2. Cleanwaste Portable Toilet

3. Wonder Wash & Spin Dryer

4. Mr. Heater Portable Buddy

5. Zodi Outdoor Hot Shower System

6. Trekker Pop-Up Shower Tent

7. 8 gallon water jug w/ wheels

8. Collapsible table for cooking item 9 and eating

9. 2-burner stovetop (up to 20k BTUs each)

10. Duralast 400w power inverter

11. Heatshield windshield reflector (and Reflectix cut outs for covering the remaining windows during the night)

12. 14" portable DVD player

Then I came across this forum TODAY!!! WOW...wish I had come across it much earlier...but it is what it is. I will continue to read, experiment, assess, and adjust fire accordingly.

Thanks to the subject matter experts for taking the time to share your wisdom with us newcomers. Hoo-aah!

 

[LeeRevell]

Thanks for your service.  I too did two services - USAF followed by USN. 
Had a Navy buddy who had a van.  Made travelling between CONUS assignments easier.  Wish I did the van thing back then too.
It sounds like your "mobile home" is coming along well.

 

[TheBlackLatin]

Thanks for your service.  I too did two services - USAF followed by USN. 
had a Navy buddy who had a van.  Made travelling between CONUS assignments easier.  Wish I did the van thing back then too.

Thank so much for yours! After 14 yrs in the USAF and 6 yrs in the USA, I went to the USN recruiter but unfortunately she was taking her sweet time. I was really wanting to see what the Navy life would be like...oh well. Wish I had started the van life years ago and saved the BAH! LoL!

 

[TheBlackLatin]

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard the CRVL forums Black Latin.
3 tours , you must be wound up big time.
You just enlisted in the tribe of "relax and enjoy your new life of freedom"!
Nice pics of your rig at this point
Plenty of info here to fill in the gaps.

 

[LeeRevell]

One good thing about serving in the Navy, it gave me lots of experience living in small spaces and sleeping on a narrow bunk!  Perfect 'practice' for "vannin' "!   

 

[mockturtle]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service!  See you on the road!

 

[cyndi]

Welcome to the CRVL forums and thank you for your service!

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.

You've got a great set up! I'm a little jealous.

 

[Tele]

In your van I see a cooling 12v fan. Check the wire doesnt get hot, cheap ones do. Check it is wired thru a fuse, it will blow if it draws more ampage to counter the losses via the heat.
While you have the van gutted, check the electricals out and set the battery(s), install a master battery off switch. Cole Hersey have one, pricey, as used by funny cars, monster trucks etc. Is good. When or if you smell any smoke, kill the battery asap. Also a very good thing to have if you park it up for a week or more (eg, long term at the airport when you fly home for Christmas etc).

 

[TheBlackLatin]

One good thing about serving in the Navy, it gave me lots of experience living in small spaces and sleeping on a narrow bunk!  Perfect 'practice' for "vannin' "!   

I know what you mean. I went TDY in San Diego early in my career (1997) and I had to board the USS Coronado/3rd Fleet a few times. I have to admit, in those days of my youth, I was very happy that I had chosen to go into the USAF. Can't remember how many times I kept hitting my head against something on that ship! [emoji23]

How long have you been vannin'?

 

[LeeRevell]

I know what you mean. I went TDY in San Diego early in my career (1997) and I had to board the USS Coronado/3rd Fleet a few times. I have to admit, in those days of my youth, I was very happy that I had chosen to go into the USAF. Can't remember how many times I kept hitting my head against something on that ship! [emoji23]

How long have you been vannin'?

Got my minivan about six years ago, and use it for occasional camping.  My E150 Conversion Van is still a "work in progress".  Slow progress.  Being retired I am on a limited income.  Since I own my own home here in Florida, I just use the vans for road trips and local camping so far.
I do have my deceased Dad's old 1986 E150 too, for parts.  I drove it a lot ever since he bought it new, so the basic E150 and I are old friends.
My four years in the USAF was mostly (3.5 years) spent in Tyndall AFB, a hundred miles from home.  I wanted to travel.  So when I reupped, I chose the Navy.  Only had to do a two week "OSVET" indoc course to learn the "Navy Way".  Had I gone into the Army or Marines, I would have had to go to boot camp.    Did a lot of traveling in my Navy Daze, literally coast to coast twice.  Wish I had had my van then!  By I was into muscle cars at that time.
I did one overseas deployment, and got paid to do three years of Carribean Cruises - that was fun!

 

[TheBlackLatin]

In your van I see a cooling 12v fan. Check the wire doesnt get hot, cheap ones do. Check it is wired thru a fuse, it will blow if it draws more ampage to counter the losses via the heat.
While you have the van gutted, check the electricals out and set the battery(s), install a master battery off switch. Cole Hersey have one, pricey, as used by funny cars, monster trucks etc. Is good. When or if you smell any smoke, kill the battery asap. Also a very good thing to have if you park it up for a week or more (eg, long term at the airport when you fly home for Christmas etc).

Thanks for the advice Tele. The 12v fan does have its own fuse and I run it off of a Super Start Power Pack (AGM/1000 peak amps) that I keep topped off. At this point, I'm not seeing a need to have a master battery switch because I only use the 400w inverter for my spin dryer and charging my phone and tablet. Everything else runs on propane. Unfortunately, I don't have a battery bank yet because I have yet to arrive at the determination that I need one. I plan on getting a 12v 24" NAXA TV/DVD player at some point...maybe that's when I'll need to get a battery bank? Please advise.

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

Hello and welcome BlackLatin! Proud Army mom of 3 here! Thank you for your service.

 

[billybob200138]

I know what you mean. I went TDY in San Diego early in my career (1997) and I had to board the USS Coronado/3rd Fleet a few times. I have to admit, in those days of my youth, I was very happy that I had chosen to go into the USAF. Can't remember how many times I kept hitting my head against something on that ship! [emoji23]

How long have you been vannin'?

Hi guys, Good to k ow there are other Vets and Retirees on here. I retired from the Army myself. Guess military life .makes good van dwellers. Know it made me a darn good janitor also.ha anyway, see you around the campfire. Save me a spot..HoboJoe