Suggestions, please!!!

[Rugster]

In my search for any and all information about van dwelling or cheap RV living, this is probably the coolest post I have come across.

This is a post from a regular poster here that covered pretty much everything you'd need to convert a van, for roughly 320 dollars:

http://www.vanlifecrisis.com/2015/09/the-320-1-hour-van-conversion.html

 

[FlipFlops]

Welcome to the group.

My first road trip was back in the mid 70's and consisted of tossing my backpack and some clothes in the back of my VW van and moving on. Of course those were simpler times without the "need" for cell phones, computers and the internet. I slept on about three layers of shag carpet and a thin backpacking foam pad. I can't even remember having a cooler but I must have had one. Oh yeah, almost forgot, I took my canoe too.

Guy

I sure do miss the "good ole simple days".....

 

[buckwilk]

Great advice!! I love the idea of making every day a learning day.  I am a little nervous but also very excited to start this chapter in my life!!

That's the thing about life many never get, chapters, you've already got it-----------*!*

 

[FlipFlops]

In my search for any and all information about van dwelling or cheap RV living, this is probably the coolest post I have come across.

This is a post from a regular poster here that covered pretty much everything you'd need to convert a van, for roughly 320 dollars:

http://www.vanlifecrisis.com/2015/09/the-320-1-hour-van-conversion.html

Thank you for sharing this post. WOW... so many great ideas that are not too complicated for a newbie!

 

[towhee]

Flip flop, try sleeping the vehicle for a few nights at home. Then you'll know what you need to be comfortable. Ditto with cooking. Try it at home first. Try some camping trips close to home.

Setting up a vehicle for long term travel is an iterative process. Set up a system for cooking, eating, sleeping, storing clothes, managing food, keeping warm or cool. try those systems out, and adjust if it is not quite right. You will likely change, adjust, fine tune some aspects of your set up many times. On you first trip You will bring some things that you don't end up using and need some things that you hadn't thought about.

Just do it! It doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough. And you will quickly learn what good enough is.

Another thought, what seems good enough once you start traveling will be different than what you thought you needed while planning from the enclosure of 4 walls and all those systems that run a house. In other words, priorities change on the road. What seemed essential in town becomes optional on the road.

All this is my perspective from my experience. Last year was my first year of traveling and I spent 4 months van dwelling before returning to sticks and bricks. This year I am one month out on this winters wanderings.

Some things changed and some didn't.

What changed? I have a different van, a whynter 12 volt cooler instead of buying ice for an ice chest, and better wiring on my solar system.

So again, JUST DO IT!







I am driving a different van this ear

 

[Woody Creature]

I am a "slow learner" and would not doubt  need a patient teacher... but I like the challenge.   :

There is a wonderful book that will help: John Holt's Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story."[font=Arial, sans-serif]At the age of forty, with no particular musical background, he took up the cello. His touching and hilarious account of his passionate second career demolished the myth that one must start an instrument (or a sport, or a language) in early childhood, and will inspire any reader who dreams of taking up a new skill."

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[FlipFlops]

Flip flop, try sleeping the vehicle for a few nights at home. Then you'll know what you need to be comfortable. Ditto with cooking. Try it at home first. Try some camping trips close to home.

Setting up a vehicle for long term travel is an iterative process. Set up a system for cooking, eating, sleeping, storing clothes, managing food, keeping warm or cool. try those systems out, and adjust if it is not quite right. You will likely change, adjust, fine tune some aspects of your set up many times. On you first trip You will bring some things that you don't end up using and need some things that you hadn't thought about.

Just do it!  It doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough. And you will quickly learn what good enough is.

Another thought, what seems good enough once you start traveling will be different than what you thought you needed while planning from the enclosure of 4 walls and all those systems that run a house. In other words, priorities change on the road. What seemed essential in town becomes optional on the road.

All this is my perspective from my experience. Last year was my first year of traveling and I spent 4 months van dwelling before returning to sticks and bricks. This year I am one month out on this winters wanderings.

Some things changed and some didn't.

What changed? I have a different van, a whynter  12 volt cooler instead of buying ice for an ice chest, and better wiring on my solar system.  

So again, JUST DO IT!







I am driving a different van this ear

Thank you for the tips. I think the most important thing you said, (Besides JUST DO IT) is "Priorities change when you are on the road."  Thanks for the food for thought....

 

[Theadyn]

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I'm always wanting to change something. I agree with the above posters, just try it out a few nights, write down things you need, and only add them. I started with too much needless crap in mine and am having to go through the process of weeding things out. And I'm not even full time in there yet. Things will change.

Oh, and Hi and Welcome!!

 

[KayakGirl]

Hey FlipFlops -- Downsizing has been the biggest challenge I have ever taken on.  OH. MY. GOSH.  What an endeavor!  I am getting there, however, and anxious to get out there when my old house sells (hopefully this year).  I have my van, and have it fixed up.  One mistake I made was fixing it up over the last year to what I thought I wanted.  It's comfy and I love it, but I have ended up changing some things and thus essentially wasting money. Not a lot, but still.  I think several here have the right idea.  Get the essentials, get out there, and then do it as you go along. I think you will get a better idea of what you need and want.  Wish I had done it that way and not got into overthinking everything.

 

[gnarledwolf]

I and my brother been doing this since six months ago. We do this out of my 2007 eclipse gt and our tents. You really do learn as you go. We had to stop and get a job... but we learned a lot in the few months we were out there... and have now re-equipped. Ready and raring now... just do lots of reading, lots of talking with the helpful people here and learn as you go. Once you have the basics, everything else falls into place with time. I have a blog that talks about what we are doing and have done; lots of pictures and maps and text.

 

[SoulRaven]

Hey FlipFlops -- Downsizing has been the biggest challenge I have ever taken on.  OH. MY. GOSH.  What an endeavor!  I am getting there, however, and anxious to get out there when my old house sells (hopefully this year).  I have my van, and have it fixed up.  One mistake I made was fixing it up over the last year to what I thought I wanted.  It's comfy and I love it, but I have ended up changing some things and thus essentially wasting money. Not a lot, but still.  I think several here have the right idea.  Get the essentials, get out there, and then do it as you go along. I think you will get a better idea of what you need and want.  Wish I had done it that way and not got into overthinking everything.

That's one reason I keep everything portable.  Your needs can change rather suddenly, and if everything is portable, it is just a matter of rearranging, rather than rebuilding.

 

[Silver]

"learn as you go. "
yes. As I over night more , I discover how important warm clothing / bedding is.
& to keep everything organized so I can find things in the dark if I want to
go stealth

 

[FlipFlops]

That's one reason I keep everything portable.  Your needs can change rather suddenly, and if everything is portable, it is just a matter of rearranging, rather than rebuilding.

Thanks for your tips!!!