Van Dwelling
Images are sometimes not shown due to bandwidth/network limitations. Refreshing the page usually helps.
You are currently reading a thread in /out/ - Outdoors
You are currently reading a thread in /out/ - Outdoors
I'd like to travel around the U.S. for a bit to visit landmarks, national parks etc. and I've come to romanticize the idea of living out of a new-ish van, at least temporarily, to make that happen.
Have you ever lived out of a van or other vehicle?
What are some strategies for:
-parking
-shitting
-shaving
-showering
-cooking
-laundry
-general furnishing
and perhaps most importantly
-electricity/internet
Have any van-living stories? Close calls with the cops or crooks? A close friend got addicted to meth, kicked out of his parents' house and survived a year in frigid minnesota living out of a tiny passenger van (he's 6'4) so I figure if he could do it in that state it should be relatively easy for someone who's sober.
>>764572
Stealth car camping is the best. You can just park in a public parking and sleep here and no one will even know, or you can sleep on some dirt roar, you decide.
>>764598
I'm a little pensive about the dirt road thing because the potential for people to get curious, good people or bad, is definitely something I want to avoid
I was thinking I could probably get away with spending overnights in hotel parking lots without too much trouble; I heard you can sneak in and eat breakfast for free usually, too (I'd say under almost ever other circumstance I wouldn't steal anything but from what I've heard hotels throw away a shit load of food a day regardless). Walmart, allows travelers to stay in their parking lots also from what I've heard.
If I can find a handful of different parking spots in each state it might end up alright; I feel like parking in the same spot every night is sure to bring unwanted attention though.
>>764572
Repost from /diy/;
>>764623
Thanks; there's a lot there I don't quite understand but what I do is pretty useful. I wonder how dated this might be, 100-watt solar panels for example look like they're $200 tops online (closer to $100 a lot of the time) so $2200 seems a bit much there.
I have absolutely no clue on how electricity works but I suppose I'm going to have to learn a lot about it to make something like this happen, looks like this image features a lot of items that will get me on the right track to sorting that issue out.
>>764606
>not parking at rest stops
You even use a car before fag?
>>764684
Rest stops are usually well outside of town aren't they; I don't want to have to drive 50 miles a night minimum in a 15mpg van just for the privilege of parking 100 feet from a major highway you fat little saucer tits retard
>>764713
>fat little saucer tits retard
>>764724
In all fairness I kind of implied in the OP I'd be hanging out at parks which would likely be closer to rest stops, but I'd mostly be living out of town(s) for days/weeks at a time and doing minimal sightseeing like that honestly. Putting like 60-100 miles a night on the van minimum (counting back and forth and not counting the other traveling I'd be doing) would be pretty costly I imagine.
>>764640
The pic is a couple of years old, so no doubt prices have changed but the up-dated pic (that I never saved) replaced the old style deep-cycle boat battery with an AGM battery.
If you're actually serious about building a "stealth" camper van, you're better off going to /diy/, where they actually know what they're talking about (mostly).
>>764713
>>764724
kek
fwiw in a MWB or LWB transit you could quite comfortably fit a shower/toilet along with large (20l+) water and waste tanks.
Its worth googling up the main vans people convert for enthusiast build threads. I've lurked LOADS of amazing forums with crazy awesome build threads.
The mercedes sprinter, vw (caddy / transporter), and ford transit forums all have camper conversion subforums so do some reading theres loads of inspiration.
It's totally possible and I'm in the process of saving to convert a van (VW Caddy) myself.
>>764795
That's in the back of a LWB transit
I always wonder about these van conversions. what exactly do you do to secure your stuff when you inevitably need to leave it at a garage for repairs/tuneup/inspection?
>>764802
If it were me I would put a cage divider in and black out curtains on the other side. Then use a different lock and key for the back door. The engine is in the front, assholes.
Get a gym membership with lots of locations for a place to shave, shower, and get a break from the tediousness of driving. You could probably park overnight there without much suspicion and if anyone inquires you'll have proof of gym membership
>>764821
YMCA is god mose for this necause most are open about 16 hours per day and most 24 hour gyms dont have much to offer you
>>764796
Why don't camper manufacturers use "prison" type combination shower stall / toilet?
This would save a lot of room in campers that don't have much to begin with.
>>764796
My actual dick, that is awesome. Getting rid of waste and wastewater is a big concern so seeing someone with a full shower is pretty inspiring, I wish I could find out more about that specific vehicle because it's the best one I've seen yet I think.
Here's a pretty cool one too but I can't help but feel like he's let a lot of opportunities for vertical storage go to waste inside the van itself: http://hurriedyear.com/, a lot of good ideas about space management in general though with the hollow bench and shit.
>>764821
>>764853
Great ideas, thanks.
>>764915
I don't really see the appeal of swivel seats, they still take up the same amount of space-would you really want to be sitting in the same place when you're driving and when you're not?
>>764796
>that impeccable craftsmanship
That is HOT
>>765046
people usually set up the passenger side with a captain seat. it adds more room to the living space, since the seats can be used to sit and such. it's more important and more common when you have multiple people in a van, pic related
here's a better alternative to the steel divider or blackout curtain: electronic tinted windows. you can black out (less than 1% of light gets through) your front windows at the touch of a button, so you can use all the space in your van without people being able to see you watching your animes. unlike window curtains, it doesn't broadcast that you are a vanhobo
>>765373
I wonder how they install the installation and wood paneling; I noticed a lot of these vans have little places to screw or bolt in steel racks and so on for various salary men to store their tools and I imagine these people make good use of those. I'm at a loss for how they actually do it, though!
>>765458
>installation
I mean 'insulation'. Christ.
>>765458
typically a salary man does not drive a work van. either he is a labourer earning wages or he is a self employed tradesman
you can use spray foam on the steel for insulation, or cut out panels of 1 inch insulation. there are a bunch of youtube videos of people retrofitting vans into campers
>>765476
Personally I really don't see mechanics and stuff going through and taking all your shit, like you wouldn't notice or something. Maybe install keyed entry into all of your cupboards, all I can think of. I'd definitely have an alarm though.
>>765477
that's a good idea. and maybe something like a gun safe for weapons/personal documents/etc.
>>764802
>>765476
>>765477
Where are you going to go when you "leave" your live-in van at the mechanic's for repairs? You can't drive anywhere interesting and you don't have a house to stay at so you may as well chill at the auto shop and shitpost here. Anything private or valuable should be properly secured in a safe that you routinely use, because your biggest security issue is a rando busting one of your windows in a car park to steal tools or whatever he thinks is inside the van.
If it's not for living in and is just for occasional camping, then you can leave your stuff at home.
You can do a lot of maintenance yourself, and in some places there aren't any required inspections.
>>765525
>chill at the auto shop
fuck that, you should chill in your van while they're working on it.
>"I'll be in my house if you need me, guys"
>close van door behind you
> your biggest security issue is a rando busting one of your windows in a car park to steal tools or whatever he thinks is inside the van
at that point it isn't a theft issue, it's a personal security issue. considering the whole idea here is that you would be sleeping in the van when this happens.
a strong safe bolted inside your van + locking cabinets/cupboards is probably the best option.
>at that point it isn't a theft issue, it's a personal security issue.
Yeah, I think I'll get a 12ga. Shotgun just to be able to make some noise if someone comes knockin' at night (also I've got a smith and wesson m&p shield that I will actually have loaded). I just read a story in the news about some guy getting fucking decapitated while sleeping under a bridge in his truck a couple days ago. Fuck!
>>765642
> meanwhile in murrica, trump and this shit too
You guys are doomed.
>>766056
Hopefully this meme will finally die out gradually as more of Europe's sleeper cell rapefugees get called into active duty.
>>765642
I'm glad I'm a light sleeper. Of course, sleeping in the back of a van would be different than sleeping in the front seat of your car in this kind of situation.
http://www.kmov.com/story/31983192/father-makes-plea-to-find-decapitated-sons-killer
>The head of a decapitated man has not been found, nor has his killer, leading his father to make a plea to help solve the crime.
>The 24-year-old, Jubal Alexander, was sleeping in his truck under a bridge in Angleton, TX, when he was murdered and beheaded. He was trying to save up money for bills and working at a local chemical plant as a pipefitter.
>A fisherman who is also a Galveston police officer found Alexander in his truck.
>“I don't want to say anything to the person. I want help to find the people who do this,” said the man’s father, also named Jubal Alexander. “I want people to know. I don't want this to be swept under the rug or die in a cold case. I want people to know. "
>Friends and family said he was never trouble, and they don’t believe he was robbed. His wallet was found inside his truck with cash inside along with his guitar.
>The father and son had dinner together days before the murder.
>“He was a good man, he worked,” said the man’s father, also named Jubal Alexander. "They cut my son's head off, and they took my son's head. Who would do that? I don't understand. I couldn't even see my son. They won't even let me see him."
>>767317
Something tells me there is more to this story. Pipefitters get paid fairly well especially for plant work. He couldn't have been saving that much. Apartments in clute or lake jackson or angleton aren't that expensive.
Something here doesn't add up. I seriously doubt there is a guy going around chopping random people's heads off down south of houston.
>>767401
staying in your truck instead of an apartment saves 400 a month. if you have a plan for the money and no need or time to stay in an apartment then there's no use flushing that money down the drain. Or he may have temporarily stayed in his truck while arranging an apartment
>I seriously doubt there is a guy going around chopping random people's heads off down south of houston.
Have you seriously never heard of a serial murderer? There are estimated to be about 300 in the US at any given time, one for every million people. You're not likely to be murdered by one, but it's a real thing.
What doesn't add up is how the guy got his head cut off. Anyone sleeping in their car would lock the doors, and you'd notice someone trying to work the door before they'd be able to break in. They don't say if the glass was broken, but using a glass breaker would be the quickest way to get in for the decapitation.
>>766056
and what exactly is wrong with trump, you shit for brains? not everyone strives to be a cuckold like you.
>>767516
The worst part about trump is that all the disgusting socialists promise to move to Canada if he's elected. We don't want them, we have too many up here already.
>>767514
>300 serial killings
The creepiest thing about that fact is that apparently nearly a third of all murders go unsolved, the headsman could have gotten away with it. It's telling that the cops are looking to "the community" for help. Unless they get caught red-handed or leave a fairly obvious trail they could live out the rest of their days without so much as a few parking tickets. The person next being waited on next to you in the restaurant could be a savage murderer!
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-do-so-many-murders-go-unsolved-2015-3
That said, you are not very likely to be murdered in the U.S. depending on where you are (the U.S. is the third most populous geopolitical entity on the face of the earth with 330~ million inhabitants and well under 10,000 are murdered a year), but it's certainly not unheard of.
>>767517
those worthless fucks don't even have the means to leave the state, much less the country. with any luck they'll just commit mass suicide like most cults.
>>764802
Take it to a trustworthy shop, coward.
>>764802
I would just work on the car myself depending on the location and the repair
>>767528
syrians, somalis and various other people didn't have the means to leave, but we flew them in and granted them citizenship anyway
I guess these people won't get that kind of help from the Canadian government because they're white and speak English.
>>764623
All that effort into electrical. Easier to just install a big battery bank, a big alternator, and an inverter and call it a day...
>>767674
you'll understand when you make it through high school and own a vehicle some day, lad
>>764885
These guys who do custom installs do something similar
http://www.customcoasterconversions.com.au/---MOTORHOMES-IN-STOCK---.html#
>>764572
Check put nutnfancy van dwelling on youtube. The entire series is a couple hours long. With how much he travels, he spends a shit load of time in it.
>>767401
I don't think he was a pipefitter yet he was working on becoming one unless I'm mistaken. He might have had a regular job and was working as a low-paid apprentice pipefitter or something.
>>767514
>$400 a month
Where I live a studio apartment (the smallest kind you can get) costs like $700 bare minimum, to say nothing of the utility costs like AC, electricity etc.
>>768285
this. once you make the transition to living in your vehicle you have more money than you know what to do with.
>>764572
check out epic van guy thread
http://archive.4plebs.org/trv/thread/1041554/#q1044368
>>768004
I had no idea he was into this too. That guy is super thorough and articulate, I'll definitely take a look.
>>768004
Oh man, just watched the video. His van really sucks though. I'm glad I saw it regardless, I was actually considering getting a chevy Astro because they're so cheap but it looks like it's just too small. Ford Transit or Dodge Sprinter seem like the only way to fly (also I think Mercedes makes a tall van, can't remember the name however).
>>768380
wait for the deal man. i got a half size school bus with 150k miles and a rebuilt engine for $500. if you look all over the place and really hunt you can get what you want for cheap.
>>768282
That makes more sense but still it doesn't make sense to me.
I bet this guy stole drugs. He obviously was on drugs. And i camp down there on the beach all the time.
This guy was well in blood curdling cry of a trailer park camp. But no one heard hom get his head chpped off?
There is more to this story. My guess is that he stole pills or heroin.
>>768395
>half size school bus
what kind of endorsements do you need to drive something like that? surely a standard commercial license isn't enough.
>>767516
>and what exactly is wrong with trump?
you joking?
>>768440
Register it as an rv and you can drive on class c
>>768505
neat
just...too conspicuous for my taste
>>768004
nutnfancy is a sperg and I don't like the guy, but that's cool. his sperginess serves a purpose
>>768504
different guy here, but I just voted for him today in the Oregon primary. I'd like to keep my country as uncluttered by millions of mass migrant "refugees" so there's still an outdoors to enjoy. I'd also like to be able to own guns and be able to take them out to hunt and target shoot.
He's a flawed candidate, but at least he seems like he actually cares about the country and its workers and citizens. The choice now is Hillary and Trump. Between those two, I'll choose Trump every time.
>>764572
There are like a metric shit ton of "stealth camper van" video's on YouTube, you will get way more info on there than you will here, the only thing you might get here is good advice on places to stop and places to buy a van.
>>768523
Yeah that's the thing, what's your parking strategy with that beast? It's a great idea (in fact I was musing about using a cube van myself) but I just feel it might invite trouble with how big and ostentatious it is. With a van, even a big Transit or Sprinter, at least the spectator is left reasonable doubt that someone is lurking in there at all hours like a creeper. With a full on repainted bus everyone knows there's more than likely a goddamn party animal in there that needs to be shoo'd off
Window Screens. Esp when it's hot in the summer and you want to sleep. Else have fun getting destroyed by bugs.
>parking
walmart. truck stops(ear plugs). anywhere not suspicious
>shitting
public restrooms. outhouses
>shaving
skip. else use an electric razor(batteries last forever. no water. no mess)
>showering
go swimming. campsites. gyms. truckstops. rent a hotel room(can also do laundry in the bathtub).
>cooking
buy food you don't have to cook(nuts. oats. fruit. dried meats). Little coleman stove.
>laundry
only have a few good clothing articles, rather than a lot of shit ones. hotels, campsites, laundromats, etc to do a load. air dry in your van(keep windows open to avoid must)
>general furnishing
Modular everything. beds should be foldable/movable/futon. or at least have storage under them if they're fixed. Net meshing is nice. Realize anything you keep in a cupboard/etc is going to move. Netting even along the ceiling keeps things in place. Velcro and magnets work too.
>little cooler, even if you have a fridge you still might need it
>jerry can, couple quarts oil, tranny fluid, washer fluid
>spare battery
>tether phone for internet, personally I just carry a notepad and write down everything I want to do/lookup next time I internet access.
>>768660
also this kinda a poor.
>flood lighting rather than focused lighting
>no storage
>CARPET
>fixed desk
Any ideas on sound proofing?
I was thinking of a layer of this:
http://www.completesoundproofing.com/products-and-services/noise-barrier-solutions/barrier-mass-loed-vinyl/index.html
Supplemented by a layer of those staggered foam acoustic panels
http://www.atsacoustics.com/foam-wedge-acoustic-panels-12charcoal.html?d=GPGEN01&kw=1261-FW12-Charcoal
I imagine parking in a high traffic area would be maddening due to the noise of other commuters and I'm surprised I haven't heard or seen much on the topic.
>>764572
So I lived in a van for a few months. I was originally just planning on it being for the drive over to a new state but I found out my plan for housing fell through on the way. So I was a bit prepared but didn't exactly have a custom build or anything.
Parking: Overnight you can do walmarts outside of cities or parks. I was in a city and thanks to a flexible schedule I just pissed away time until 4 or 5 am when public parks opened and I just parked there to sleep. Also just went with public street parking a few times but it feels weird man. Granted this was a minivan so I woke up and looked out the window at the people walking past. There's always National Forests, tons of drive in camping sites and usually a forest service toilet at a nearby trailhead if you don't want to shit innawoods.
Shitting: Public restroom toilets. If you're making it regular go with parks, if you're passing through businesses are fine.
Shaving: Dry shave with the makeup mirror on the sun visor. It isn't a nice wet shave with foam but it works.
Showering: This is where it gets tricky. If you're in one place for a while you should get a gym membership. Also truck stop showers if you don't mind $10+ for a shower. Lastly the worst option. Public restroom sinks late at night to wash your hair and rubbing alcohol/hand sanitizer for the rest. I didn't feel homeless until my gym membership ran out and I had to wash my hair in a sink at 3 am.
Cooking: Since you're preparing you can just get a propane grill. Alternatively lots of ready to eat food. When I drive long distance I pretty much live on bagels and fruit.
Laundry: Laundromats or a bucket with a plunger and some detergent. There are some manual washers you can buy but I never saw any that were cheap.
Electricity/Internet: You could write a book on this. http://www.cheaprvliving.com/electrical/electricity/ If you want it easy just get a cigarette lighter to regular outlet adapter.
>>768708
Cont. For internet either look into RV systems or freeload off of libraries and Lowe's. Lowe's stores also wont give a shit if you spend a night there. I spent the better part of a month at a lowe's abusing their wifi until I finally got kicked out.
>>768656
Meh, people mind their own business. I park wherever and pretty much do whatever i want and its not a problem. Fuck people, its you and your cube van maaaan. But seriously, no one cares.
>>768711
>until I finally got kicked out
what, physically or electronically? what did you do to earn that, torrent shit and not move your van?
>>768723
Before the week I got kicked out I just spent part of the day there and came back after closing to use the internet waiting for 4 am. The week I got kicked out I was NEET, it was hot as fuck, and they had shade. I spent most of the time there and after a few days a manager and someone else came out and asked me to leave.
The wifi didn't block torrenting or anything else but it's possible some locations lock it down a bit more.
Oh yeah you will suddenly start noticing how many people live in cars because they'll have the same habits you do and you know what to look for. Fun times.
>>768730
even if they block torrenting you can tunnel out
a cheap nigger tier VPS costs $10 a year, throw tinc or openvpn on it and you're done.
>>768736
I don't live in a vehicle but I only started noticing this after I started reading into this kind of thing. I used to live on a boat, so it's weird I didn't consider people would do the same in a car.
You can park in Walmart's and Cabelas. My local Cabelas even has pump out hook ups for RVs.
You can also hit YMCAs for showers
When my friend was forced out of his home and into a small passenger van I bought him a big blue plastic water tank (I think it was pic related). This water tank received really good reviews on amazon but according to him the water that came from it tasted heavily of plastic to the point where he couldn't drink from it at all. He's in an apartment now, but Is there a way to mitigate this problem that neither of us had thought of at the time?
>>769436
Water is a solvent. You need a container that does not easily leach molecules into the water. Tougher than it sounds.
>>769446
why not just use glass bottles? Or a big stainless steal container?
>>768663
what's wrong with a carpet? If you always clean your shoes (or better yet, just get them off before entering) you have a clean and cheap insulation.
>>768504
>you joking?
So who would you vote for?
Trump seems like the only guy that will stop with madness of foreigners colonizing the west... I live in germany, and Merkel with her refugees literally makes me afraid in my own country. A friends daughter was also nearly (!) raped by a refugee.
>>768654
Most videos on the subject are either shit, or blog posts for viewers.
The best place to learn is forums.
>>769450
Am german as well. We get raped all the time by refugees. All those hispanics steal our jobs, wifes and kill our pets. Heil hitler man, long live xenophobism. Once we kill the jews i will not be fat any more.
Amirite? Guys? GUYS?
>>769461
>I am why germany is full of non-germans and I don't understand why anyone would want germany to have germans in it.
Why don't you just move to Turkey? If you want to live among those people, then it's easier to move you to where they are than to move all of them to where you are.
>>769461
>steal our jobs
Mexicans do take American jobs. It's not the Mexicans' fault for wanting to make more money than they otherwise would, rather it's our politicians for enabling them to do so at our working-class community's expense. This is a fact, you butthurt liberal twink.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ttxGMQOrY
>>768290
thanks for the link, good source of ideas even if the guy comes off as a bit of a knob.
>>764572
girlfriend and i use this, put a camper on my Silverado a while back. 1973 camper refinished with fiberglass on the outside, inside renovated, all on my 2000 3/4 ton 4WD Chevy Silverado
-cooking it has a water tank and sink, fridge and stove run off of propane
-showering kinda SOL unless its camping, in that case i leave a jug of water in the sun for a few hours and go nuts
-laundry, again SOL. just pack alot of clothes
-shaving is no problem
-has a portable crapper
-road trips we usually park at Wal-Mart, camping in the bush
-electrically ive wired up LED's inside the camper off of replaceable batteries, i can charge devices from inside my truck without it running and a solar panel on the roof charges the battery
-heating you can leave the stove on low and crack a window but it gets hot in that thing, extra insulation was added when the outside got refinished
we only use it for camping in the rocky mountains or for when we drive to see her parents on the other side of Canada but i could easily live out of this thing long term, comfy and 4x4 for all conditions
>>769436
just rinse it a few times, after using it enough the taste should go away. i have the exact some one and after a year the taste is gone
>>769461
fuck you anon THEY TOOK ERR JERBS
>>769475
again, basic but works
>>769482
>>769487
old war flag i used to run in one of my JDM cars lol
>>769477
They did though-through no real fault of their own, mind.
Free-wheeling immigration, in particular that which allows temporary or illicit migrants to take advantage of discrepancies in currency values between neighboring countries hurts the already vulnerable working poor, driving up competition and driving down wages. Great Britain and Poland have a similar relationship, where Polish laborers have squeezed many native Brits out of the trades and into the waiting arms of the Fast Food service industry.
Not everybody can be a "snarky" limousine liberal faggot making millions annually in the entertainment industry, making fun of the working class for "not being able to compete" while simultaneously acting like they have these same people's best interests at heart.
>>769487
What are you talking about?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Sun_Flag
>>769487
only God knows how many imbeciles like you there are in this good earth..
anything is racist for the likes of you
>>769549
just an inane comment, I know what the flag actually is
>that pic
>hates white people
>clearly is part white
racial identity is fascinating
>>769475
I've never really needed four wheel drive, but all the same I love vehicles that can power all wheels. One of those Quigley conversions would be super cool.
>>764572
Alex Honnold (one of the best rock climbers around) does it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CArfaGmYuGM
>>768656
>tfw there's a guy with a similar set up in the rv park I'm at
>>769716
this is how a lot of serious climbers live, but Honnold actually has an apartment in Bishop these days :P
>>764802
Chilton's / Tillman's / Haynes manual and some tools in your housevan seems the best solution. Work on your own shit, eliminate a bill and enhance your security at the same time.
>>769794
Yea, I wouldn't doubt it. I'm sure he still spends a lot of time in his van though.
>>769805
>Chilton's / Tillman's / Haynes manual
Any way you could elaborate on these? Are they just kind of catch-all mechanics' reference books?
>>768504
>you joking?
>>768504
>Doesn't like Trump
>but likes Putin
Wat?
>>768380
Cyclecruza also has a series on making of his van. You can get some ideas or inspiration from that.
>>769450
hard floors always better.
Way cleaner/easier to clean.
little broom+dustpan, and a rag and you're set.
carpet you need a vacuum to properly clean. let alone getting it wet or spilling something on it.
A pair of slippers is way simpler than muh cold feet on hard floor.
>>769712
just depends where you live, im in north Canada and that things had to drive me through 4ft of snow in the middle of nowhere in -40c so 4x4 isnt optional. my old truck was a 2WD Nissan KingCab and as much as i loved it i got stuck in it all the time in winter, the Silverado has never gotten stuck once and ive driven it through blizzards and rivers
>>769450
lots of shit tracks into campers, hardwood or tile/laminate is the way to go. mine has laminate and the floor takes 30 seconds to clean with a swiffer
>>764623
where would someone from /k/ store their liberty?
>>770616
depends on how much freedom you own
if I had to hazard, I'd suggest storing the bulk of the collection in a trusted location and keeping a couple of the more useful/shootable guns in a strong safe bolted to two sides of the van. A semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a few handguns should do the trick.
if you get a custom alarm system that reports directly to your phone then you can likely get to your van before buddy can force your safe open with the claw hammer he used to smash your window
you should have a safe anyway, at least for documents. if your van gets torched in a flash riot I'm sure there are at least a few things that you'd want saved.
>>770616
Overhead storage would probably be best I imagine.
>>770788
Headspace is vital. You wanna keep as much room as possible doing this shit. The people you see with the super closed in builds only use their vehicles for camping and shit. If youre living in it, you need living room. Simple as that. Not to say no overhead storage at all but you gotta keep it toned down. Rooftop storage is the way to go.
>>770821
I meant more along the ridges where the wall meets the ceiling, I can't imagine you putting your head there often. I did the measurements, as a manlet I need about 52 inches to sit straight up in my current set up. If there's a cargo van that could at least allow me to sit upright I might be able to tolerate living in that (the only alternative is once again the tall vans, Dodge Springer and Ford Transit which hold onto their value and can't be found for less than like $25,000). Alternatively if there's a way to sit up, but be low I'd be open to that idea too.
>>770831
Just keep your eyes open, there are plenty of tall conversion vans out there for absolutely dirt cheap that you could fix to perfect for faaar less than buying one something like a sprinter or transit
>>764802
we have a knaack box welded to the floor in our van its in the back under the bed area. It locks and holds my guns, laptop, cash ect..
You have to remove the futon and a piece of plywood top to get to it. totally concealed and impervious, only problem I ran into was at the us customs/baja mexico check, their car x-ray machine picked it up as a hidden compartment.
>>768440
As long as its not for commercial purposes, you can drive a fucking semi if you want to.
Those idiots with semi truck rvs need no CDL at all .
Go figure.
>>770879
kek'd
>>770904
CDL is a "commercial drivers license". If you're not driving commercially, you don't need a CDL... that part is correct.
But in most states, a regular "Class R" or "Class D" drivers license has a weight limit - 26k lbs. Once you push over that limit, you do need a higher class license (or endorsement in some states).
If the trailer's over 10k, some states require a higher-class drivers license.
Types/classes of license depends on the state, but the weights are usually 26k total/10k trailer.
Our big truck/trailer scales around 22k. Driving that is a bit different than driving my pickup at 6700 empty, and a lot different than a compact car weighing less than half that.
>select all images with mountains
>>770879
>what is context
>>770879
Trip, what a surprise
I'm actually thinking of doing something like this, driving halfway across the country living out of the back of a Subaru. Any additional advice for that sort of thing?
>>768656
I drive something similar to this fire work, not something you want to buy. The boxes are shit, made of plywood and start coming apart at the seams. I've seen a lot of benz vans here in us lately. Affordable and only van with 4x4 of the lot if that's interesting to you. Wal-Mart usually lets campers stay in the parking lot overnight. Probably the cheapest option
>>770033
It's basically a general how-to step by step book for cars
>>771794
Ford and GM vans can be ordered with the Quigley 4x4 upgrade.
>>773752
Why the fuck would you want 4x4.
>>774230
Take it you've never been off tarmac in something that weighs 3+ tons.
I drive a 3.5t Mercedes for work and if I go onto a verge it just spins. I imagine anyone who wants a van for even moderate tracks would be looking for awd.
Granted it's gonna cost more, be heavier and thirstier but if you NEED it you NEED it.
>>764802
You scared they would find your cum jar and dildo collection?
>>774230
ever driven through 3-4ft of snow? i had a 2WD Nissan pickup years ago and got stuck all the time, now i wont even bother anything but a 4x4
>>774230
A better question is why wouldn't you? I won't own anything that isn't 4wd
>>767514
depends on what type of truck it was, if its an actual haulage truck then you could just cut through the material.
Anyway its a moot point because he could have been decapitated outside the truck whilst fighting off the attacker then dumped back inside the truck once decapitated.
whatever the reason it sounds pretty personal.
>>764572
>parking
Walmart parking lots, or any place that's open 24 hours
Or park in high population neighborhoods, a new car parked on the street there is nothing crazy to those people
>Shitting
Buy a trowel for digging holes for when you're in campsites
Buy a bucket for the other times
>shaving
How are you having trouble with this?
Also, it's not like you're holding a job during this, does it really matter?
>Showering
Lots of campsites have showers, also get a gym membership with branches all across the country.
>cooking
Just like you do when you're camp9ing
Portable camp stove, that sort of thing
>Laundry
Laundry mats do exist
>General furnishing
step 1: measure inside of van
step 2: buy shit that fits
step 3: put shit in van
step 4: enjoy shit you put in van
>>769716
thanks for sharing. goal zero has a few more similar videos and they were fun to watch.
i will bump this faam
>>768504
classic lefty has no arguments
>>765525
>because your biggest security issue is a rando busting one of your windows in a car park to steal tools or whatever he thinks is inside the van.
yeah the first rule i first not to lock the van.
If your goods must be stolen, at least leaving the door closed but also not locked will assure you more that nothing will be broken.
>>764572
Truck stops are your friend they have showers and laundry machines available
What type of generator would I need? Are solar panels really a thing? Could my vehicle charge the generator as I drive?
>>780716
if you're just doing light electronics, an inverter will be able to charge a battery bank while you drive. you can buy a small solar panel to charge it when you're not going anywhere.
>>780719
How much energy am I looking to want to store? Say I want to run a microwave and have hot water
>>780734
you're going to want something car battery sized and a generator to charge it, then.
>>780736
Yeah I saw some goal zero generators but i dont know how powerful it would need to be and i dont know if only driving would be enough to charge
>>780738
over a long enough time period it'll charge it, it's just a matter of knowing how much power you'll need to draw daily and therefore how much you need to charge. Any battery you buy would have some advice on what to charge it with, I would think.
>>780716
>>780734
>>780738
If you really use a lot of electricity, cover the top of the van in panels for about 600W of power, and get the quietest gas or diesel generator you can find. You could try putting a flexible solar panel on the hood, but heat might be a problem. If anyone can provide input related to this then please do.
Consider the tiny wood stove as an alternative to electric heat.
You'll want 3 to 6 sealed AGM batteries, or a large quantity of new lithium cells if you're not shy with electronic projects. You can mount some of the AGMs under the van.
I wouldn't recommend the goal zero kits, I'd buy the components separately at their best prices.
What would be some serious bare minimum for this kind of living?
>>783022
I lived in a cobalt for a year and a half. I didnt own shit except stuff to sleep with and food.
Welp
I'm going to be driving cross country, sleeping in the back of a five-door and camping the whole way, starting tomorrow. wish me luck.
>>764572
I lived in a VW beetle for a little while. My main issue was where to sleep honestly. In NY it is very hard to find a nice quiet place. I kept getting booted out of all the parking lots by police. I ended up only sleeping a few hours around dawn by parking on the street and taking little naps at various places during the day. I am assuming your best bet is rest areas? I imagine people pull over to sleep there all the time. And then your bathroom and food is covered. As far as showers go, it's not gonna be ideal unless you happen to find outdoor showers. The good old homeless 'sink baths' should tide you over for a while, but I highly prefer getting into a suit and swimming in a creek or stream.
I had a few run ins, mostly with police making me leave a place, but I've had people check my doors before. Always lock your doors and close the windows.
>>783076
Dang dude.
>>783025
That's impressive man, sorry you had to go through that. I suppose you probably get used to it but still, a compact car is about as low as it gets. Did you ever consider selling it to get a van instead? You wouldn't have been able to get one that was big enough to stand in or have a desk in or anything probably but at least you'd be able to stretch your legs out a little ffs.
Godspeed sir
>>784581
Nah it was great, im the short bus anon now. Traveling out of that cobalt was wonderful, the only complaint i had was the dog smacking her lips two inches from my damn face all night
Another scary thing about living in a van besides the errant criminal and police encounters is the possibility of a fender bender or heaven forbid a straight up accident being exacerbated by having everything you put in there turning into potentially deadly flying debris. A cargo van with a metal door separating you from your stuff seems like a good way to go.
>>784590
is your dog black?
>>785201
Hol up
>>785201
You know it
Any recommendations on solar panels?
>>764796
Looks interesting, anyone have any more like this?
>>764802
I work In the auto trade. I get heaps of camper vans come in. I and all my workmates have absolutely fuck all interest in what's in the back of your shitty hippy van
>>792109
No one has ever messed with my shit. Most that has happened is home bums and meth heads come asking for money, and that is pretty few and far between.
>>792147
>Most that has happened is home bums and meth heads come asking for money, and that is pretty few and far between.
To be fair that can happen even when you aren't living in a van.
>>793830
Its not a big deal either. Tell em no dont spange me and theyll be off. Most of the time theyre just trying to get 4 bucks for steelies anyway.
>>768504
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
>>768504
Why do I have that terrible feeling that you enjoy cuckold porn?
Why.
>>768690
Earplugs.
Try not to get an ear infection cuz they wont fit then.
>>793884
Dude isn't qualified. Dude is a loudmouth. Dude hasn't what it takes to learn or to think beyond his own ego.
Dude isn't the right one.
