Vandwellers by choice?

[DudeInAVan]

New guy here...I'm living in a class B right now, but starting to consider the merits of scaling down to something much simpler. I'm wondering...how many vandwellers here actually *choose* to live in their custom rigs despite being able to afford something more RV-like (for example, a fully self-contained class B)? That is, assuming money wasn't an issue (within reason), would you continue to live in a regular van, or move to more of a standard RV setup? If the former, I'm curious to hear why. I have my theories, but would like to hear from those who are actually living it.<br /><br />Dude

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Welcome. I don't know if there is already a survey. I know you can make your own here and post the questions. Most people elaborate on the posts below the survey, sounds interesting., never tried to but it can't be to hard.

 

[SoulRaven]

For me it was a forced choice... I am disabled but make enough to share a nice apt. or home... I found that there were just to many crazy people in the world... I walked out of this crazy house I was renting a room in one day and looked at my van and the light turned on, hey i could live in that... And I have now been a satisfied van dweller for 2 years now...<br /><br />unlimited money without what I know now, would mean a mortgage, job, bills, and all that I am now free from... I have had really good money in my life and i have been poor, I liked both, but for me, i find the challenge of van-dwelling to be very exciting, challenging and fulfilling...

 

[Ballenxj]

I had a Class A 31' motorhome. Sure, there was a lot more room in it than a van, and I loved driving it. <br />The down side? It was big enough that turning around on a narrow rural or mountain road was a pain. <br />Checking the air in the duals was also a pain, and you needed to do it on a regular basis. Let's not even talk about the cost of replacing those big tires. <br />A van is not an economy car, but wait until you get a load of the mpg for a motorhome. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />Stealth in a motorhome? YUP, no, that's not happening. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />Plus you have to drive further before you find a spot big enough to park. <br />I think you would just have a lot more freedom in a van. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[Ballenxj]

I have had really good money in my life and i have been poor, I liked both, but for me, i find the challenge of van-dwelling to be very exciting, challenging and fulfilling...

<br />Steve, It sounds as though you and I have had a few parallels in life, but that's a story for another time. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[wrcsixeight]

If I could afford a $80+k Roadtrek/ pleasureway/Sportsmobile, &nbsp;I'd sell it, load my backpack and go to South America, and see how long I could make the $$ last, seeing and experiencing as much as possible.<br /><br /><br /><br />I Did something similar in my late 20's and it was the best thing I ever did in my life. <br /><br />

 

[Seraphim]

DW and I are prepping for retirement in a few months. We looked for years for the ultimate road home for ourselves, and came within a whisker of a 30+ foot class C with triple slides.&nbsp; Found the perfect one for a good price, drove it, and decided it wasn't what we really wanted. Found a perfect truck camper instead.<br /><br />We had an older B and loved it - but for two people, long term, it would have caused friction.<br /><br />Choose what's best for your situation.

 

[katelyn]

i don't think i'd like a class b.&nbsp; after getting rid of all my stuff i find that less is definitely better. my chevy g20 has a nice bed, some storage, a little table and my cooler.&nbsp; room for other necessities but i find i really don't need much anymore. i got to the point in my life that i realized stuff doesn't make me happy. and yes living in a van has been a choice for me, being mobile is awesome! if i don't like the 'neighbors'&nbsp; i drive away!

 

[ttpadilla]

I admit I'd want something fully self-contained.&nbsp; And not home-made.&nbsp; Sorry, I'm just (barely) girly enough to need that.&nbsp; I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who have really stripped down to bare necessities and created a minimalist dwelling for themselves, but I don't think I could do it.&nbsp; At least not yet. I don't consider a bathroom a "luxury" item, although others have certainly shown that you can make do just fine without one.&nbsp; I don't want to squat over a can, outside, in the middle of winter, or deal with the outside shower that seems to work so well for many.&nbsp; After I'm actually on the road for a while, will my opinions on the matter, change?&nbsp; It's possible.&nbsp; But my first step from a house, will have to be something that has plumbing.&nbsp;

 

[DudeInAVan]

Lots of good responses here. Thanks.<br /><br />Tammi, I can relate. I had the same exact attitude when moving into my B from an apartment, but now that I've been at it for a while, I'm wondering if all the comforts are really worth the hassle. Nice to have, sure, but it does all come at a cost -- increased fuel consumption,&nbsp;less willingness to explore as a result,&nbsp;additional maintenance (more stuff to break),&nbsp;time spent dealing with holding tanks,&nbsp;etc...<br /><br />It's up to the individual to decide for themselves if it's worth it, and there's probably no one "right" answer. Anyway, thanks for sharing all the perspective everyone.

 

[yesican]

Does a Class B really get that much less mpg's&nbsp;than a regular van?<br /><br />Rae&nbsp;

 

[ttpadilla]

Lots of good responses here. Thanks.<br /><br />Tammi, I can relate. I had the same exact attitude when moving into my B from an apartment, but now that I've been at it for a while, I'm wondering if all the comforts are really worth the hassle. Nice to have, sure, but it does all come at a cost -- increased fuel consumption,&nbsp;less willingness to explore as a result,&nbsp;additional maintenance (more stuff to break),&nbsp;time spent dealing with holding tanks,&nbsp;etc...<br /><br />It's up to the individual to decide for themselves if it's worth it, and there's probably no one "right" answer. Anyway, thanks for sharing all the perspective everyone.

<br /><br />Yep, I imagine my perspective will change with time... I do recall holding tanks are not my very favorite thing to deal with. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[LowTech]

&nbsp;As someone that turns these "cargo boxes" into living space, I would not ever buy most RV's. In my opinion they are poorly built (structurally) unless you get into the "way too expensive" class. I would way rather take a well built, empty space, and configure it for my uses.<br />&nbsp;I've lived in a car, many vans (my current van is a `70 E300 that sometimes pulled a 7'x8'x5'6" home built trailer), a couple trailers, and now a Big truck (6x6 2 1/2 ton w/ a 8'x12'x6'6" live-in box on the back). Even that is small for a truck, not much bigger then a small metro bus, but it will go where we want to <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />&nbsp;The bigger the rig, the more time you spend inside.<br />Guess it's all about whether you are an "insider" or an "outsider" <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br /><br /><br />(living and field testing the rigs I build, . . . 32 years on the job)

 

[Seraphim]

<span id="post_message_1275504157">Does a Class B really get that much less mpg's than a regular van?<br /></span>

<br /><br />It's a function of how much weight you're pulling.&nbsp; Our '95 Intervec Falcon got about 12 -13 average. Don't forget you've got a kitchen with stove, microwave, fridge, a bathroom with tub, water tanks,&nbsp; cabinets, etc. If you put all those things into a regular van (which is waht a B is) then you'll get less MPG.<br /><br />I wouldn't own a new class B. The Falcon could go anywhere a regular van could go that didn't need 4x4. We had it up in the mountains, near streams. Not limited for what we wanted to do. Parked it anywhere we'd park a regular van. The conveniences were nice, prefering to shower in it than going to the CG showers. The only negative was it could have been much better insulated, but I could have done that were it really an issue.<br /><br />We never had a 'less willingness to explore' attitude. The B was something to live out of, not live in, and we spent more time outdoors doing things precisely because it did get a bit confining at times for two people.&nbsp; One reason we got a TC rather than a C.

 

[Guest]

Hi low tech, Hope you two show up at the RTR next Jan. I missed you last time and am sorry I did....<br />Bri

 

[ParadiseParrot]

Well these thing can be a matter of how they look on first look.<br />Looks bring a&nbsp;predijust. Try looking at vanning sites. <br />These are all home made sometimes with help.<br /> And mostly amazing use of space with many features that are hidden.<br /><br />The larger the RV the more likely you will be in parks. <br />This is normal as boondocking other than the southwest becomes an issue.<br />Parks will generally have better showers than u have in the RV. then there is the moisture issue , tanks etc etc.<br />Europeans use hostels a lot when traveling. Americans not so much. It's a state of mind.<br />My mother almost never used her shower in her class A in the 2 plus years she full-timed.<br />So the need for plumbing gets in a larger rv which the size makes it unnecessary to ever use.<br />She would have been much better off in a B or small C for how used her RV which was to travel.<br />Something to consider.<br /><br />

 

[MrNoodly]

I haven't made the jump yet, but the past few years I've found myself getting rid of more and more stuff. So the house seemed like the next logical step.<br /><br />I just read Jason Odom's "Vanabode" and a lot of the philosophy of living in a van by choice spoke to me. It's sort of a mobile version of Waldon Pond.<br /><br />Whereas an RV tries to recreate house living in miniature, and is therefore always frustrating, I see vandwelling as permanent camping, but with a self-propelled steel tent. Besides, I don't want to spend all my time in the boonies. I like cities. A lot. A van can go anywhere, park anywhere. And it's perfect for stealth camping in town.

 

[Van Tripper]

Hey Folks, I live in my van, will be a year come Feb. &nbsp;Expenses are less than $200 per month for recurring bills, truck ins., storage unit, cell phone(Track Phone), gym(for showers, national chain) etc. &nbsp;Rest of bills I consider variable/controllable: food, fuel, entertainment..., cost will depend on your life style.<br /><br />I work full time, by choice, with a Temp. Service. &nbsp;That way it is easy for me to get a job close to anywhere I want to visit. &nbsp;First 3 or 4 days I work in a month pays the recurring bills and fuel for going to work, everything not spent on controllables(a word?) goes into savings/maintenance fund.<br /><br />I can't justify, in my mind, the expense of having a residence that will limit my freedom to do what I want. &nbsp;Kids are grown and I have been divorced for 3+ yrs.<br /><br />I use one of my kids residences as an home address.<br /><br />It's the easiest way I can see to save money, remain in control and go basically where and when I want. &nbsp;Can boondock, park at Wal-mart or stealth camp if there are laws against overnight parking. &nbsp;I'm not welcome at some RV parks, van is a 2000(to old for some) and just not welcome at others, breaks my heart, when I refill my propane I don't spend that money nor any other, at non-welcoming parks.<br /><br />Well good luck to all,<br />LIFE SHOULD be FUN!!!<br />&nbsp;<br /><br /><br />

 

[DodgeRam]

I'll have a year come June for me Van Tripper. Yes, I COULD afford an apt. But criminy the prices are just so high ($400-$650).&nbsp; I have a monthly pass at a local rec center. I do my wash weekly at a laundromat and will get storage as soon as I am hired (Sometime in Late Feb/March) My bills (Excluding vehicle payment) are quite low compared to apt rent. In fact, for what I would have paid for an apt, I can easily afford darn near everything bill/food/gas wise.<br /><br />I will admit, this is not for some...Yes, there's not as much room as an apt would have, however, there's also less clutter, people and problems with renting/sharing an apt.<br /><br />Cool part is where I am. Having scoped out over 20 parking sites and using one a night, which leads one to not register on the radar of anyone...Especially cops. Just wish the local Walmart was so accomodating, but I understand that some don't like the trash that some (Bad van/vehicle dwellers) do happen to leave behind.<br /><br />Best advice I have is when thinking of a purchase, check referrals/reviews&nbsp;or (I guess) come here. <br /><br />For example, I saw a 12V coffeemaker online. Sounded good till II saw the reviews...OMG what a POS it was. I then found a propane camping coffeemaker (Coleman) which has worked better then I could have hoped for.<br /><br />Soon the savings account will grow and all will be good....<br /><br />

 

[Van Tripper]

I'll have a year come June for me Van Tripper.<br /><br />Cool part is where I am. Having scoped out over 20 parking sites and using one a night, which leads one to not register on the radar of anyone...Especially cops. Just wish the local Walmart was so accomodating, but I understand that some don't like the trash that some (Bad van/vehicle dwellers) do happen to leave behind.<br />&nbsp;<br /><br />For example, I saw a 12V coffeemaker online. Sounded good till II saw the reviews...OMG what a POS it was. I then found a propane camping coffeemaker (Coleman) which has worked better then I could have hoped for.<br /><br />Soon the savings account will grow and all will be good....<br /><br />

<br /><br />As far as Wal-mart, most places, the no parking is the local city thinking that they are saving the local RV Park's business. &nbsp;<br /><br />For 12V appliances, I go to the local truck stop, get ideas of what I want and either buy there, if good price, or go on-line.<br /><br />But if you'r single and want to save money, living in a vehicle isn't a bad idea to me.