Hi all! Been away a while, but back with a new project.
When I joined years ago I had started with a Class C, pretty big, cumbersome, and just too much trouble to be fun. Sold it and went with a van for a while. Did live out of it for 6 months, gloriously houseless, went to a lot of places (even the RTR one year), had a lot of fun. Then life happened and have been in sticks 'n bricks (okay, sticks) since then. I've still been keeping an eye here and living vicariously through you guys.
Currently living at a home base. Five acres in the country, been using a lot of cheap living principles to save money. Still bucking the system while I can. Found a home the cheapest route possible, DIY'ing a lot of it along the way, place is cheap on taxes and county zoning is very low. We pretty much camped out in our home while working on it, so was with you guys in spirit.
Kinda perfect. Made sure we put RV outlets at electric pole so we have a place to park and power when we had electricity run out here. But still get that itch, so I guess I will be a weekend warrior while still keeping the home base.
On to the project! Recently acquired a '63ish canned ham for cheap. Has one of those attic/crows nest things, making it 16', good bones, some water damage that will need repaired. But for $300 am expecting for it to need some work. It's been sealed. Layout is good and I can stand in it. There will be about 3 pieces of the beautiful birch wood needing to be replaced, along with the insulation and possibly wood behind it. The roof and floor is sound. Restoring it to it's former glory will cost too much, so we will be making it usable while trying to retain as much vintage as possible, and me still being as cheap as possible.
The layout is gaucho bed/couch at back, zero cushions and wood needing to be replaced. Lovely storage under that, makes into almost full size bed. Small kitchen with single sink, cold water only, 3 burner stove/oven. Very small old fridge (which we already have a replacement for, gift from aunt). Decent storage and a small pantry. Tiny closet that a hanging shoe shelf that hangs nearly ceiling to floor fits perfectly in. Toilet closet with toilet that needs to be mounted, but still may go with bucket toilet to avoid any black tank fun. Dinette that makes into bed, zero cushions, decent storage underneath. And crows nest above that pulls out for decent bed, needs wood replaced. Eleven windows, most with the jalousy openings, most need screens redone, all need curtains. The exterior is pretty ugly metal with very faded aqua stripe in middle, will be painted. Someone did install a window AC under the crow's nest with a metal shelf support welded onto the tongue frame. Two propane tanks. The electrical in it needs work, has the old round breakers in it, buzzing when plugged in and trips breaker, will be replacing. But it is pretty electric light, only having two plugins, 3 lights, and a fridge needing to be juiced. Single axle, pulled very well, small enough but has about anything one would need. There is also a wall mounted furnace that is coming out. On the hottest days the AC cooled it off in there pretty fast, so decently insulated even with uncovered windows. Think they just built stuff better back then, my opinion.
Already got an upgraded dinette complete set free from a relative that was ripping theirs out from their nearly new camper. Instant upgrade. They were also throwing out a tri-fold mattress which I've cut down and pieced together to make my own cushions for the back gaucho. Saved $150 on just foam right there. We ripped out the nasty carpet and was happy to find decent linoleum underneath that will stay, might throw a few rugs on it for cold floor.
Have saved all of my van living stuff and ideas and will be using it in camper. Kitchen stuff stocked, extra butane stove. Mr. buddy heater for heat. Small folding solar panel and battery packs. Lights, chairs, etc. All the tips and tricks for camping, food storage, keeping clean, living lean and light. Will be pulling with husband's trusty Chevy half ton.
The work may be slower than I'd like, but it's still fun, none the less. Heck, knowing me I'll be camping in it in the yard, haha. Already surrounded by nature. And juice to boot, heck yeah.
This got longer than I anticipated, haha. Sorry. Missed you guys!!
When I joined years ago I had started with a Class C, pretty big, cumbersome, and just too much trouble to be fun. Sold it and went with a van for a while. Did live out of it for 6 months, gloriously houseless, went to a lot of places (even the RTR one year), had a lot of fun. Then life happened and have been in sticks 'n bricks (okay, sticks) since then. I've still been keeping an eye here and living vicariously through you guys.
Currently living at a home base. Five acres in the country, been using a lot of cheap living principles to save money. Still bucking the system while I can. Found a home the cheapest route possible, DIY'ing a lot of it along the way, place is cheap on taxes and county zoning is very low. We pretty much camped out in our home while working on it, so was with you guys in spirit.
Kinda perfect. Made sure we put RV outlets at electric pole so we have a place to park and power when we had electricity run out here. But still get that itch, so I guess I will be a weekend warrior while still keeping the home base.On to the project! Recently acquired a '63ish canned ham for cheap. Has one of those attic/crows nest things, making it 16', good bones, some water damage that will need repaired. But for $300 am expecting for it to need some work. It's been sealed. Layout is good and I can stand in it. There will be about 3 pieces of the beautiful birch wood needing to be replaced, along with the insulation and possibly wood behind it. The roof and floor is sound. Restoring it to it's former glory will cost too much, so we will be making it usable while trying to retain as much vintage as possible, and me still being as cheap as possible.
The layout is gaucho bed/couch at back, zero cushions and wood needing to be replaced. Lovely storage under that, makes into almost full size bed. Small kitchen with single sink, cold water only, 3 burner stove/oven. Very small old fridge (which we already have a replacement for, gift from aunt). Decent storage and a small pantry. Tiny closet that a hanging shoe shelf that hangs nearly ceiling to floor fits perfectly in. Toilet closet with toilet that needs to be mounted, but still may go with bucket toilet to avoid any black tank fun. Dinette that makes into bed, zero cushions, decent storage underneath. And crows nest above that pulls out for decent bed, needs wood replaced. Eleven windows, most with the jalousy openings, most need screens redone, all need curtains. The exterior is pretty ugly metal with very faded aqua stripe in middle, will be painted. Someone did install a window AC under the crow's nest with a metal shelf support welded onto the tongue frame. Two propane tanks. The electrical in it needs work, has the old round breakers in it, buzzing when plugged in and trips breaker, will be replacing. But it is pretty electric light, only having two plugins, 3 lights, and a fridge needing to be juiced. Single axle, pulled very well, small enough but has about anything one would need. There is also a wall mounted furnace that is coming out. On the hottest days the AC cooled it off in there pretty fast, so decently insulated even with uncovered windows. Think they just built stuff better back then, my opinion.
Already got an upgraded dinette complete set free from a relative that was ripping theirs out from their nearly new camper. Instant upgrade. They were also throwing out a tri-fold mattress which I've cut down and pieced together to make my own cushions for the back gaucho. Saved $150 on just foam right there. We ripped out the nasty carpet and was happy to find decent linoleum underneath that will stay, might throw a few rugs on it for cold floor.
Have saved all of my van living stuff and ideas and will be using it in camper. Kitchen stuff stocked, extra butane stove. Mr. buddy heater for heat. Small folding solar panel and battery packs. Lights, chairs, etc. All the tips and tricks for camping, food storage, keeping clean, living lean and light. Will be pulling with husband's trusty Chevy half ton.
The work may be slower than I'd like, but it's still fun, none the less. Heck, knowing me I'll be camping in it in the yard, haha. Already surrounded by nature. And juice to boot, heck yeah.
This got longer than I anticipated, haha. Sorry. Missed you guys!!
