karenishere
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- Aug 21, 2014
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I am getting back to the idea of road living, and every time I see a Sprinter conversion or even an old vw microbus I feel my pulse rise. Ooooh, that, That!!
What I have in mind for this phase of life is to look around the country with the idea of perhaps moving there someday. To go somewhere, live in my vehicle for a month or so while taking day trips or maybe a class, get a feel for the location, and then go back home. I would like to think that in a pinch I could live in my "bug out baby" indefinitely, but I probably won't.
Long ago and far away I had a used 1989 Winnebago Chieftain 23' with all the bells and whistles, which I lived in full time for about a year. On the plus side, it was ... cushy. There's nothing like pulling into a Home Depot parking lot to take a shower, or roasting a chicken when you're stuck in traffic.
On the minus, with a car tow it was groaningly complicated and cumbersome, I called it The Lumber-bus, and I think it was getting gallons to the mile instead of the reverse.
This time around I want to go little and simple. I'm also working with an out-the-door budget of about $20K. Still, there are considerations and already some bumps in finding what I think I want.
1. I want to stand up. I'm only 5'1 so you'd think this would be easier, but everything seems to come in two sizes: an awkward gigantic raised roof, or a crouch for anyone, even a shrimp like me. Has anyone actually brokered (or performed) a roof conversion?
2. I want something that's the right size. I think a converted minivan like a Dodge Caravan might be a tad too small, while a full sized van is slightly more than I need.
3. I'm creative but not very mechanically inclined. I can do woodwork and make curtains and so on, but I'm pretty dubious about my ability to make structural changes to a vehicle like putting a skylight in a metal roof or adding a furnace. So there's a tradeoff ... it seems like I would be creatively in over my head to buy a newish raw shell, but from a mechanical standpoint also over my head if I buy a 1975 Chevy Class B.
4. Environmentalism. It's a focus of mine, and I'd really like to have a light footprint in terms of energy use while I'm on the road - decent gas mileage, perhaps solar dry docking and even a little bit of water catchment. Nothing like adding complication to "simplify"!
5. Front seats. The Lumberbus had reclining front seats that swiveled to face backward, and I'm spoiled for life. Why on earth put more seats in a small van if I have two extremely comfortable seats in there already! I also know from experience that convertible dinettes are perhaps the most uncomfortable furniture ever built, whether sitting or sleeping. And I don't actually need a table. So I'd much rather have a single bed with a real mattress and two swiveling chairs than the standard dinette foam cushion conversion. But I'm a bit stumped about this. Nothing I've come across (except for pre-equipped camper vans like Roadtrek which are $$$$$) have the swivel feature. Can it be done? I've seen seat stems that swivel for less than $100, but then how do you move the seat closer or farther from the steering wheel - or does this become a vehicle only I can drive, bwahahah?? Do I have to actually buy $$$ RV replacement seats and hardware as a package?
So many questions! I'm sorry if I'm overwhelming, just very excited and not sure what direction to move in first. If anyone has interesting ideas for me, please share!
TIA
Karen
What I have in mind for this phase of life is to look around the country with the idea of perhaps moving there someday. To go somewhere, live in my vehicle for a month or so while taking day trips or maybe a class, get a feel for the location, and then go back home. I would like to think that in a pinch I could live in my "bug out baby" indefinitely, but I probably won't.
Long ago and far away I had a used 1989 Winnebago Chieftain 23' with all the bells and whistles, which I lived in full time for about a year. On the plus side, it was ... cushy. There's nothing like pulling into a Home Depot parking lot to take a shower, or roasting a chicken when you're stuck in traffic.
On the minus, with a car tow it was groaningly complicated and cumbersome, I called it The Lumber-bus, and I think it was getting gallons to the mile instead of the reverse.This time around I want to go little and simple. I'm also working with an out-the-door budget of about $20K. Still, there are considerations and already some bumps in finding what I think I want.
1. I want to stand up. I'm only 5'1 so you'd think this would be easier, but everything seems to come in two sizes: an awkward gigantic raised roof, or a crouch for anyone, even a shrimp like me. Has anyone actually brokered (or performed) a roof conversion?
2. I want something that's the right size. I think a converted minivan like a Dodge Caravan might be a tad too small, while a full sized van is slightly more than I need.
3. I'm creative but not very mechanically inclined. I can do woodwork and make curtains and so on, but I'm pretty dubious about my ability to make structural changes to a vehicle like putting a skylight in a metal roof or adding a furnace. So there's a tradeoff ... it seems like I would be creatively in over my head to buy a newish raw shell, but from a mechanical standpoint also over my head if I buy a 1975 Chevy Class B.
4. Environmentalism. It's a focus of mine, and I'd really like to have a light footprint in terms of energy use while I'm on the road - decent gas mileage, perhaps solar dry docking and even a little bit of water catchment. Nothing like adding complication to "simplify"!
5. Front seats. The Lumberbus had reclining front seats that swiveled to face backward, and I'm spoiled for life. Why on earth put more seats in a small van if I have two extremely comfortable seats in there already! I also know from experience that convertible dinettes are perhaps the most uncomfortable furniture ever built, whether sitting or sleeping. And I don't actually need a table. So I'd much rather have a single bed with a real mattress and two swiveling chairs than the standard dinette foam cushion conversion. But I'm a bit stumped about this. Nothing I've come across (except for pre-equipped camper vans like Roadtrek which are $$$$$) have the swivel feature. Can it be done? I've seen seat stems that swivel for less than $100, but then how do you move the seat closer or farther from the steering wheel - or does this become a vehicle only I can drive, bwahahah?? Do I have to actually buy $$$ RV replacement seats and hardware as a package?
So many questions! I'm sorry if I'm overwhelming, just very excited and not sure what direction to move in first. If anyone has interesting ideas for me, please share!
TIA
Karen
