Van Live vs Pack-Hostel-tent $$?

[offroad]

Let's say a person wants to live a mobile lifestyle for five years.&nbsp;<br /><br />$10000 to set up a van<br /><br />&nbsp;$3000 for food<br />$1000 boondocking expenses.&nbsp;<br /><br />You can live a long time via couch surfing, bunk beds , tenting, bus travel! Car rental.&nbsp;<br /><br />For a dollar comparison discussion. Does it not make financial sense to not set up a van? &nbsp;

 

[StainedGlassGuy]

From my perspective, a lot of the answers to your question would depend upon your planned activities during those five years. Things such as how far you intended to wonder from base camp, how you intended to travel from point A to point B during those times, if you are going to have company accompaning you either full time or off and on, and you own physical abilities must always be considered. <br /><br />One thing for sure ... If it were me, and I had decided to do it without any mobile devices other than shoe leather express, I would plan&nbsp;a short time experience of a few weeks to see how it would go and if I really wanted to spend the next five years doing the same sort of things.<br /><br />Respectfully,

 

[user 423]

There are pros and cons for each type of travel...pick your poison. For most folks it wouldn't just be the costs that would influence their choice. <br /><br />You could get set up in a van for a lot less than $10,000 if you're mechanically inclined.&nbsp; My first van (in '01) was only $1200 and it cost another $100 to add a bed,etc. I had plenty of space for the tools I needed to maintain and repair the van and I also had room for a bike and swap market/eBay items I sold to make a little extra cash. I also had room for the occasional passenger to help with gas expense. If there were any kind of threat or excessive noise,etc. that I didn't want to deal with, I just moved on to a better location. <br /><br />If you have (very) few possessions and can fit them in a backpack, then I guess you could go vanless. You would still have to lug a tent, basic camping gear,etc. everywhere you go and constantly keep your eye on them so they don't get ripped. You would have to hoof it to where you could pitch a tent or pack it on a bicycle which would be another expense and bother. You'd probably get caught in nasty weather more than a few times in a 5 year period. You also may experience more than one episode of unpleasant couch surfing, bus station vultures, car rental mishaps,etc.<br /><br /><br />

 

[bk2valve]

Offroad....an odd set of numbers to me.....<br /><br />If I were traveling the world for 5 years I would do as you suggest....the cost of a vehicle then is pretty steep.<br /><br />In the US you could car camp and do it for really cheap. That is the way that many foreign youth do it here and in other places...by a cheap car and bring a tent. I have met many on the road who come here with just a backpack full of their personal gear and buy the camping gear at someplace like Wally's. In Australia too....<br /><br />In fact, in Alaska you used to be able to hang out at the hostel in Anchorage and buy an old beater from a traveler who is flying somewhere else...many of those vehicles have been passed back through many travelers...<br /><br />You can be as creative as your imagination lets you.<br />Bri

 

[wrcsixeight]

I spent 3 years travelling overseas. &nbsp;I had all the tent camping gear, and could carry everything on my back, including surfing equipment, but &nbsp;any country I stayed in longer than 6 weeks, I found a vehicle was necessary or I would be stuck and not be able to experience the land/ sea as I wanted to, or be dependent on others, and public transportation, which is still more streamlined than in this country.<br /><br />Buying and driving a vehicle in OZ/NZ/South Africa was, hopefully still is, much cheaper, and much easier than here in the US. &nbsp;I Did not put much money into any vehicles there, made no improvements to them, other than retread tires and the occasional tune up which probably paid for itself in fuel.<br /><br />Caravan parks were cheap quiet and safe, and hostels charged a nominal fee to park there and to sleep in the van. &nbsp;Vehicle insurance was either not mandatory, or included in the vehicle registration costs. &nbsp;In OZ, I needed to re register my vehicle, and when they wanted an address, they had no issues listing me as a resident of a local &nbsp;seasonal caravan park. &nbsp;I was in and out of the "DMV" in 5 minutes for about 45$.&nbsp;<br /><br />Most of my attempts to travel in the USA as I did in other countries was met with roadblocks red tape and bad attitudes toward such a lifestyle, and I still feel like a foreigner in my own country, over a decade after having returned.<br /><br />I'd love to go out and do it again, but my funds are limited, the dollar is weak against other currencies, and in general, Americans travelers are not well liked in the rest of the world, though travelling alone and not being the typical arrogant, entitled, American traveler opens a lot of doors.

 

[Lifemagician]

Most of my attempts to travel in the USA as I did in other countries was met with roadblocks red tape and bad attitudes toward such a lifestyle, and I still feel like a foreigner in my own country, over a decade after having returned.

<br /><br />So you understand how I felt as a non-resident trying to purchase a vehicle.... in my own name.&nbsp; Took a long time, but with the help of an attorney managed to circumvent the red tape.... legally.<br /><br />

... in general, Americans travelers are not well liked in the rest of the world, though travelling alone and not being the typical arrogant, entitled, American traveler opens a lot of doors.

<br /><br />Not all!&nbsp;&nbsp; But it would be nice if some of those <strong><em>arrogant, entitled, American traveler</em></strong> were a little more aware of the damage they do.&nbsp; When I was driving taxis I got quite sick of the loudmouthed Yanks, who knew everything better, criticised everything they came across.... and never tipped!&nbsp; <br /><br />That is why I never tip in the US.<br /><br />Mind you, I met some lovely Yanks... and now have many wonderful friends in the US.&nbsp; Just a pity that a few spoil it for the majority.<br /><br />Lifey

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; "That is why I never tip in the U.S."&nbsp; Punish folks who have probably never been in your cab, that's logical. Wonder what they think of your countrymen LM ?

 

[wandering mike]

Lifey: &nbsp;Not sure what country you were in when the Americans didn't tip, but some countries are very different on the practice of tipping. &nbsp;But some service type folks in those countries get a perception that they should be tipped by Americans. &nbsp;Many American service providers get a bit perturbed when they are not tipped by a person from a country where it is not a common practice. &nbsp;It just indicates a need to be aware of the culture you are trying to fit into.<br /><br />Also, don't be so hard on the issue of US ownership of vehicles by non-residents. &nbsp;Some countries pretty clearly prohibit it. &nbsp;I don't think Mexico allows it unless you have permanent residency status. &nbsp;Other countries it is pretty easy. &nbsp;In the US, some states are easier than others. &nbsp;South Dakota is pretty clearly OK.

 

[Kevin H]

That's a pretty tight budget for 5 years. &nbsp;Have you considered a bicycle? &nbsp;There are lots of folks doing just as you plan on two wheels. &nbsp;Take a look at: &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/</a>.<br /><br />Also, take at look at &nbsp; <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.adventurecycling.org/</a>.<br /><br /> &nbsp;These folks have set up routes all over the country that hundreds of bike tourists travel each year. &nbsp;Their travel map packets are not cheap, but they are comprehensive and have been the defacto routes for years. &nbsp;You may be able to find some on Craigslist or eBay.<br /><br />Or, you could be a bike vagabond - no route or plan. &nbsp;Lots of people on crazyguy do that.<br /><br />Your plan sounds like you don't need to cover a lot of territory each day. &nbsp;Biking may be a perfect fit.<br /><br />Good Luck!!<br /><br />-- &nbsp;Kevin

 

[wandering mike]

<ul><li>+1 for CrazyGuyonaBike.com. &nbsp;Lots of great journals. &nbsp;My three favorites from over the years are the English guy who literally rode around the world on an old high wheel "penny farthing", the guy who graduated from Duke University and rode back to Malaysia, starting in LA and going via Ireland, Turkey and China. &nbsp;And especially the 82 year old guy who rode from Sacramento to Florida. &nbsp;(and I do have a set of the "Southern Tier" maps if anyone is interested in buying them)</li></ul>

 

[Lifemagician]

@owl - Good point!&nbsp; But then, I avoid being compromised.&nbsp; I avoid finding myself where it is necessary.&nbsp; I do not use restaurants, hotels, taxis, etc.&nbsp; I find the whole concept of tipping objectionable.&nbsp;&nbsp; Why not set a fair price in the first place, and pay people a decent wage.&nbsp; Then they would not be dependent on handouts.<br /><br />@Mike - I am well aware that the US is by no means the only place where it is difficult to own a vehicle in one's own name, as a non resident.&nbsp; Just that it is the only one I have experience with, and it has been a constant source of frustration.&nbsp;&nbsp; There is no other place on earth I would want to drive / own a vehicle.<br /><br />But when anyone who comes to Oz can buy, register and insure a vehicle within a day, and hit the road, one expects a few courtesies in return.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is not as if you are trying to buy a house or land, and take over the place.&nbsp; (From what I hear it is easier to buy property than register a vehicle.)&nbsp; <br /><br />Lifey

 

[wandering mike]

Lifey: &nbsp;yep, one of the classic ways to visit Australia is to buy a car, drive it and sell it at the end. I hope to do something along that line one day. &nbsp;I do wish we were as easy here on ownership of cars. Not a good reason that I can think of either. &nbsp;And you are right, the US is very much a car focused society.&nbsp;