So why is Van Dwelling illegal?

[Canine]

Too often that's what is seen, whether it is a park or a city street. Usually I see signs like this near popular scenic areas like beaches or the coastline. It's a method of crowd and squatter control. It also is driven by economics, private rv parks don't want free public camping anywhere close to them.

As far as vagrancy laws, those will always be around, it's the main means to keep us "undesirables" under control. You may have paid taxes for years or you may have paid gas taxes and income taxes but you aren't paying enough taxes right now to the municipality or county you are staying in.
If you rent a driveway or a parking space you may be overlooked but in cities like I used to live in you cannot even do that. If vandwelliing gets up too high in numbers for "their" comfort, laws and ordinances will be passed to eliminate it. Proof of "means" could be required, just like is done now with immigration.

I've had my van searched due to a fake traffic stop because I did allow it, knowing they wouldn't find anything (looking for Colorado weed), but it pissed me off to have to do so. I figured if I refused, they'd find some vehicle fault, real or imagined and cite me for that, as well as the supposed traffic infraction.

One thing I have always done is keep the van from being permanently converted. It has saved me grief a couple times so far as there's no real evidence I am "living" in it as opposed to just traveling. I keep clothes in 2 rolly suitcases instead of in built in containers. I use an air mattress and foam that I take down daily instead of a framed in bed. I may have a few cooking appliances but they are "Coleman" camping style. I don't have boxes of important personal items or files, nothing that would suggest I have been "away" for a long time. The interior is clean and organized, no bedding or laundry strewn around. That's my way of camouflage, yours may be different. Of course, I still work part of the year and that helps me keep things fixed up, as I have some income. I won't drive an old unrepaired vehicle, it's asking for hassle.

Next winter, even in Phoenix, if I'm heating my van with a propane heater and am huddled inside at night in the middle of the week, I may have a more difficult time explaining why I'm there. I just take my chances I suppose. My current employer won't allow overnight parking on their property but it would be handy if I found someone who would. It's just about asking and keeping open to new possibilities.

Dusty, currently on the road

 

[ZoNiE]

Aaaaand here we go:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1138912372791927&set=gm.930691033676921&type=1&theater

 

[gcal]

So depressing.

 

[eDJ_]

Dusty98 wrote:

I've had my van searched due to a fake traffic stop because I did allow it, knowing they wouldn't find anything (looking for Colorado weed), but it pissed me off to have to do so. I figured if I refused, they'd find some vehicle fault, real or imagined and cite me for that, as well as the supposed traffic infraction.

One thing I have always done is keep the van from being permanently converted. It has saved me grief a couple times so far as there's no real evidence I am "living" in it as opposed to just traveling. I keep clothes in 2 rolly suitcases instead of in built in containers. I use an air mattress and foam that I take down daily instead of a framed in bed. I may have a few cooking appliances but they are "Coleman" camping style. I don't have boxes of important personal items or files, nothing that would suggest I have been "away" for a long time. The interior is clean and organized, no bedding or laundry strewn around. That's my way of camouflage, yours may be different. Of course, I still work part of the year and that helps me keep things fixed up, as I have some income. I won't drive an old unrepaired vehicle, it's asking for hassle.

This ^^^

This is what I try to relate in my website (signature) about being able to convert back to an empty Van when necessary.  My last Van had a folding cot for a bed with a foam Mat and sleeping bag.  The cabinet was set up
with a metal top where the small Coleman could sit.  36 qt ice chest.  Plastic basins to wash dishes in and rinse
before stowing away.  Boyscout "Trail Chef", Dutch Ovens, for campfire cooking.  Fold out table on the cabinet with folding chairs and I was good to go.    I could back it up to a small  storage locker and in less than 10 minutes it was just a carpeted floor and I could roll up that indoor/outdoor carpet if necessary and have only the masonite.  Then I had work related stuff I could throw back in it in order to look business once again.  Never hassled much.  Followed a few times, so I made a magnetic sign I used when  using the Van on the job.  The Boss, gave me the OK to do it and it looked official displayed on the rear of the Van.  This usually only happened when I was taking something to a customer some distance away and the local "Barney Fife's" didn't "know" the vehicle. 

When I was pulled over by a Cop they were mainly just curious.  I'd tell them I used the Van in on the job with the Corporation I worked with.  Always had my business card on the sun visor to show them.  The told them that on the week end I may go to the Park to camp and fish and tow my small motor boat with it to use for recreation.   I think most of them just envied my outfit and the simplicity of it.

 

[SoulRaven]

I totally agree with keeping everything portable. If for some reason you need to change vans, this can be a real game changer.

This also great if you're boondocking, because you can move as much or as little of it as choose, to use outdoors, or in a tent, etc.

If it's built in and you want stuff you can use outdoors, then you're lugging around duplicates of everything.

 

[Canine]

Random newspaper article this morning, in Utah: "man arrested for lewd act". He was watching a group of 9-12 yr old girls play a softball game in a park, someone walked by and saw him inside his VAN with pants down (not sure how they saw that, don't want to go there).. When arrested the article said he had "no known address". Yep, a vamdweller, of sorts.

It's always a van... No wonder we get hassled.

 

[BigT]

Simple, easily removable and with a storage unit to house the majority of my stuff has always been my design plan.  
I have a full-time job, so I don't plan to travel the country, searching for odd jobs as I go, so this system works for me.  
Also I have a tiny van, so extra storage is necessary.  I considered a box trailer, but they're a hassle and kill the fuel economy I get from my little 4-cylinder.  

As much as I'd prefer not to pay any kind of rent to anyone at all (like a storage company), I think it's the best way as it will allow me to have easy, daily, access to my stuff without having to haul it around with me, making it hard to convince the police that I'm not living in the van.  

If/when I upgrade to another vehicle, this stuff is easy to transfer.  

 

[sephson]

BigT, I like the setup. I may steal, uh, I mean borrow some ideas if I ever get a van of my own.

 

[Canine]

That's a transit connect, right?

I totally agree with not looking lived in, that's what I do as well.