To be living in my car soon!

[djvadka]

Hey guys very soon I will be living out of my car in Portland Oregon USA!
I tried it out before for 2 nights in a 2004 Mercedes Benz ML350 was comfortable to sleep in but cold & it broke down on me so im getting rid of it &
moving into my 2003 Mercedes Benz C230 which is a whole lot smaller and less comfortable to sleep in.

I will be doing this for roughly 3-4 Months, Here is what I figured out so far:
Work: Go to a hvac technician trade school (Work & School) -(9-5 Job)
Place to park: Apartment Complex where i lived 10+ years ago quiet and decent neighborhood.
Sleeping gear: Sleeping bag, pillow and blanket.
Privacy: Have all around black tinted windows plus wanting to install black curtains to cover windows at night.

I am open to any advice & all advice.
Thanks in advance, stay safe & sweet dreams!

 

[Theadyn]

Will you be sleeping across the back seat or does the back seats lay flat where you can put your feet in the trunk giving you more space?

You should check out Suanne's blog, she lives out of her Prius on the road: http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/ She's got great tips in there!!

Oh, and Welcome!!

 

[cyndi]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, djvadka! Your basic plan is sound. When urban and stealth van dwelling it's always good to have back up plans. Like more than one place to park, safely, at night.

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.

 

[djvadka]

Will you be sleeping across the back seat or does the back seats lay flat where you can put your feet in the trunk giving you more space?

You should check out Suanne's blog, she lives out of her Prius on the road:  http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/   She's got great tips in there!!  

Oh, and Welcome!!

Hey thanks for the welcome!
The back seats don't fold down at all so I'm going to have to try and fit my 6'4" figure in the back seat I've been looking at getting an inflatable mattress such as this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-sex-bed...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item1c52452cd4

 

[Grizzly Stardust]

Hey thanks for the welcome!  
The back seats don't fold down at all so I'm going to have to try and fit my 6'4" figure in the back seat I've been looking at getting an inflatable mattress such as this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-sex-bed...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item1c52452cd4

6'4?? I hope you are a side sleeper!

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Personally I'd sell the Mercedes and get either a mini van or larger van. You dont have to spend a bunch of money... might even be able to trade straight across.

Being 6ft4 sleeping in the back of that car you have is not going to be fun. If it was very temporary... maybe, but not for 4 months. My .02.

 

[Suanne]

Before you commit yourself to sleeping in the Mercedes, I'd try it for at least a 2-week trial period. And, perhaps, try different set ups during that trial period. For example, try it with the seats as they are, then try it with the air mattress, then try it with the seats removed and a temporary platform for a flat bed. Since this Mercedes is smaller that the last one, it may be difficult to get comfortable. If that's the case, leave the option open to getting a different vehicle that will accommodate your height.

Bitty lives out of her vehicle in the Seattle area, in this post she has some great suggestions for living and staying warn in the PNW climate -- https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Sleeping-keeping-warm-without-heat

Also, I'd suggest that you do some research on how to be stealth in a city. There's lots of good tips in the forum and on the web site. For example, don't do anything but sleep when you arrive at your overnight spot, arriving late and leaving early. Don't turn on any inside lights at your overnight spot. Have 7-10 overnight spots that you rotate among, staying no place more than one night in a row. Beside some Walmarts, rest stops, truck stops, there are other places that you can overnight. It just takes some research and searching to find them.

But, for sure, take those two weeks as a trial period and try it out. There's nothing like real experience to help you get it right.

The best to you in your mobile living and in your studies.

Suanne

 

[Canine]

6'4"? Wow. I hope you sleep like a baby- literally. Like in a fetus position. I'm just joking with you. Lol. If you find it a bit small, it isn't the end of the world. Many of us have changed rigs many times until we find what we like. No matter what rig you choose, you will be making compromises; no one vehicle is perfect, so make the best of what you have and learn from that.