Working and living in my van

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spacer

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While I don't guess I'm the usual off-grid vandweller, I have a Chevy van for cargo work, and there are some challenges involved with living in the vehicle while keeping the cargo area available for work. <br>I'm just getting started, so I'll be dredging the forum and website for ideas on staying comfortable. At this point, I figure a hammock and a Mr. Heater will be on the short list, and an installation of my marine battery will come a little later. I do have a home and family to come back to, but the majority of my time will be on the road. <br><br>I've been a trucker for the last 20 years, so the road isn't new to me... just have to adapt to the different vehicle.<br>It'll be nice to be able to park (nearly) anywhere I want, though. <br><br>
 
Welcome Spacer, nothing like an in home office <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>
 
<P><FONT size=3>Glad you found us, Spacer! There's a lot of help and ideas available here!</FONT></P>
 
Welcome aboard.&nbsp; I think you will fit in here perfectly. <br>
 
Welcome Spacer! &nbsp;I'm interested in seeing how your van project goes.
 
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Spacer, Welcome!</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Arial"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">I'd take a hard look at what Johnny Canuck has done with his pickup/camper for a good example of retractable, fold to the walls construction for an excellent way to preserve functional space ... while also creating a comfortable live-in space.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://vanlivingforum.com/post?Simple-Survival-Expedition-5172482&amp;trail=45" target="_blank" target=_blank>https://vanlivingforum.com/post?Simple-Survival-Expedition-5172482&amp;trail=45</a></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Arial"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Arial"></font> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Arial">Also, 4x4chvy has some excellent space saving ideas in his Roughneck Trailer; </font><font size="3" face="Arial">can be found in the "Share Your Conversion Progress" topic.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Arial"></font> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Arial">We look forward to seeing your plans and progress with your cargo van.</font></p>
 
Welcome .<br><br>We don't live FT in our unit, but we do take extended trips. The key is organization lol. Move stuff to sleep, put it back to work/drive. Everything in clear plastic&nbsp;containers that can easily be moved and stacked. Once you get in a routine, it's cake.<br><br><br>
 
Yeah, I considered a hammock, but I'm a tall guy, and want more headroom, so I'll probably use a sleeping-bag sized inflato-bed for a while. I'll hang some of those space-saving hangars in a suit bag for my hanging clothes and keep all the foldable stuff in my duffle. When it gets in the way of the cargo, I'll just shove it in front of the passenger seat. <br>Fortunately, the Express seems to have fairly simple curves on the walls, so I can look at putting up some of the aluminum backed insulation in the near future. I'm not going to take many comforts with me beyond a few books and a notebook computer, as I'm used to spending idle time in truck stops anyway. <br>The larger ones, like the Petro, have a movie room, arcade, laundry, etc. <br>And, I've been known to nurse my iced tea in the restaurant for hours with a good book, though I won't take up a table if they're busy and need it.<br><br><br>
 
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