Very close to taking the plunge, need advice from Full-timers and Vandwellers

[saldogwood]

Hi,<br>&nbsp;My name is Sal, I have been reading a lot on this site as well as cheaprvliving.com&nbsp; Thanks to all of you who have contributed.&nbsp; The information is very helpful.&nbsp; I am very close to going for it and leaving all my worldly possessions (junk) behind.&nbsp; I would like to reach out to any one reading this is who is willing to chat (e-mail or phone) from time to time and lend your perspective, knowledge, and advice.&nbsp; I can be contacted via e-mail at first.&nbsp; [email protected]<br><br>Thanks in advance to those of you who respond.&nbsp; I will also continue following this thread for any advice that may be posted here.

 

[sparky1]

Welcome Sal<BR>glad to have New members<BR><BR>sparky1 in s.Va

 

[peacetara]

Welcome!<br><br>and why not just ask your questions here?<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara

 

[blkjak]

<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>welcome .... blkjak</strong></span>

 

[CrossCountryGal]

Welcome

 

[SirJoey]

<br><strong style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Welcome aboard, Sal!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br></strong>

 

[Pikachu711]

Welcome to the group Sal!

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;Welcome Sal! There are so many ways to do this. Advice for one or a few of us might not be very helpful. Try asking specific questions right here. Read through everything so that you'll have a better idea of how you want to live. It's a big step and being armed with the right information makes everything a lot easier

 

[Pikachu711]

Welcome to the group Sal!

 

[saldogwood]

Thanks for the welcome.&nbsp; I will definitely post specific questions here as I think of them.&nbsp; I definitely think chat would be faster for me. I'll keep posting questions here, and I will definitely appreciate anyone's help here on this thread or directly through chat.&nbsp; I will start by posting my current status and my plan.<br><br>I have been self-employed for the last 6 years and I am ready for a total lifestyle change.&nbsp; I am married but have no children and we are both 30 years old.&nbsp; I am weeks away from closing a deal to sell my business.&nbsp; I have purchased a 30' Class A motorhome that needs some work to be ready to live in.&nbsp; It's a 93 Southwind built on a P30 chassis with a 454 gas engine.&nbsp; It runs great, has great tires and brakes.&nbsp; It has some water damage inside, but thanks to the construction design, the damage is all cosmetic.&nbsp; I will replace a few interior panels, put down a a new floor and replace the upholstery.&nbsp; The roof will be completely resealed using a combination of products and techniques.&nbsp; I feel pretty confident that I can do all the work for under $1500 in materials.&nbsp; I might even be able to get it done under $1000, if I compromise on the finishes, but I am a bit of a perfectionist. This is what my RV looks like, just not as clean and shiny.<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://images1.showmethead.com/nlarge/1993_southwind_30_class_a_motor_home_for_13_900_20981177.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br> I have been doing the math, and I will probably resell the RV once I have repaired it since the fuel economy is not going to be practical for my plans.&nbsp; I figure the RV will do 7 mpg at best and I am looking for 12mpg at a minimum.&nbsp; Instead, I am considering a much smaller platform by converting a small box truck which I already purchased.&nbsp; My box truck looks just like the one pictured here, except it has the 98 front body style.&nbsp; Mine has a 4.3 V6 and I am confident it will get 12mpg and I am optimistic for 15mpg.&nbsp; I haven't completely made up my mind yet.&nbsp; I just bought the truck a couple of months ago for my business.&nbsp; I haven't even driven it 200 miles yet.&nbsp; As soon as I have time, I will fill up the tank and estimate the fuel economy.&nbsp; Then I will load it up with some weight to simulate the conversion and get a fuel economy estimate again.&nbsp; The box is 10' long, 6.5' wide, and a little over 6' tall.&nbsp; It's enough for me to stand up with a few inches to spare.&nbsp; I figure insulating the roof and floor will lose 2 inches.&nbsp; I have already designed a floor plan which includes a good sized 24"x36" RV shower.&nbsp; I will probably buy a trashed or wrecked camper and use all RV parts.&nbsp; I plan to build a roof rack for it to hold a 50-100 gallon water tank for solar hot water for showers ONLY.&nbsp; I realize that's a lot of weight but I don't plan to travel with the tank full.&nbsp; At most I would drive from the campground water supply to my spot.&nbsp; I also figure I can fill it with water from a creek or lake if I am off grid/boondocking.&nbsp; I need to be able to hold enough water and waste to boondock for 7 days at a time.&nbsp; I will build a rear rack that will double as the porch.&nbsp; The rack will hold 2 dual sport bikes totaling 600lbs.&nbsp; I will use these to drive around when I need supplies or when I am camped far off-road and need to get around quickly.&nbsp; In case you haven't noticed, this plan is also a sort of "Bug Out" plan.<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://images04.olx.com/ui/10/03/67/f_148069667-c3c9cd14.jpeg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://images02.olx.com/ui/10/03/67/f_148069667-605ca98a.jpeg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;There are a few members with box trucks but I'm not sure if any have finished a complete build yet. Your truck looks like it'll make a good base for living quarters. Keep posting your plans and I'm sure that people will chime in with ideas and opinions.<br><br>&nbsp;50 gallons of water is plenty for two people for a week of daily showers, toilet use, cooking and general cleaning. Many people get by on much less by using wet wipes, cooking over a fire, lining pots with foil, cooking in bags and by using other ingenious water saving techniques.

 

[saldogwood]

So I finally got around to setting up my photos so I can upload them here.&nbsp; The photos I have posted so far were just samples from the web.&nbsp; Below are the photos of my actual vehicles I am considering for hitting the road full-time.&nbsp; First is my 1993 Southwind 30' Class A RV<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/southwindrv.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/southwindrv2.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><br><br>Next is my 1998 GMC Savana 10' box truck<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/boxtruck1.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/boxtruck3.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/boxtruck4.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>

 

[saldogwood]

I recently found out about this bus.&nbsp; A guy I met on craigslist who was selling a grumman stepvan, told me he had this for sale too.&nbsp; I am going to go check it out in a few days.&nbsp; It has a 6.2L diesel.&nbsp; I would love to hear some opinions on that engine.&nbsp; That front grille and headlights are hideous don't you think?&nbsp; Looks like the front end of an old limo you'd see some Iranian diplomat riding around in.<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/chevybus1.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/chevybusfront.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://dogwoodlawnandlandscape.com/sal/chevybusinterior.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[saldogwood]

How do I get this thread moved?&nbsp; I think it would be better in the "questions about living in van" or "questions about living in an RV"

 

[twokniveskatie]

There ya go. Put it under RV for now, can change it again later if you want. And welcome!

 

[saldogwood]

Thanks for the move!

 

[rvwandering]

Sal - did you see Katie's "Seen on the Road" post -<a href="/post/blog-of-an-interesting-build-6249218" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://vanlivingforum.com/post/blog-of-an-interesting-build-6249218</a> ?&nbsp; It looks very similar to what you been considering.

 

[saldogwood]

tonyandkaren, do you mean this? <span id="post_message_1277233466"><a href="http://handmadematt.blogspot.com/2010/12/van-conversion-from-scratch-to-home-on.html?m=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://handmadematt.blogspot.com/2010/12/van-conversion-from-scratch-to-home-on.html?m=1</a></span>

 

[saldogwood]

After much deliberation, I am not "taking the plunge" and going full-time but I do hope to spend 5-6 months per year on the road.&nbsp;&nbsp; That is all dependent on finances.&nbsp; I am keeping the house for now.&nbsp; But I am very impulsive and that could change at any moment.&nbsp; I am pretty sure I will be purchasing the bus and plan to do a conversion.&nbsp; Should I start a new thread?&nbsp; Or should I ask to move this one and change the title?

 

[twokniveskatie]

Just start a new thread about your new direction