Living in a Van or truck a website link

[Mr.B]

Theres been talk on the boards as of late about living in travel trailers. I found this link.

I found this link below on a website I visit quite often.

http://cheaprvliving.com/index.html

Site I visit.

http://thesurvivalistblog.blogspot.com/

[MissouriFree]

Ultimate Blue Highway ( if anyone has read the book.)

[Native87]

Interesting site. On a truck cap and bed i would insulate with fiberboard. I dont agree with the kerosene heat in the van. Sounds like a possible poisoning situation.

[michiganmom]

Hmm, this site got me to thinking about how much money i owe on my house and if it would benifit us to live in an rv. Of course i would not want to be here(michigan) in the winter and would want to live in a warmer state. Any one out their living in an rv? I just wonder how the people that have been living like this full time are making it work. What are the good and bad points about it?

[jen_in_southtexas]

I have always wanted to convert the back of an older van into living/sleeping quarters. You would sleep comfortably in there anywhere you chose to go and wouldnt have to pay for hotel. And when SHTF you'd still have a roof.

j

[LeatherneckPA]

Start here (http://www.bidstrup.com/fulltime.htm) and then Google full time RV living. to start to get an idea of what's involved. There's an awful lot of information out there.

[gypsy97]

Hmm, this site got me to thinking about how much money i owe on my house and if it would benifit us to live in an rv. Of course i would not want to be here(michigan) in the winter and would want to live in a warmer state. Any one out their living in an rv? I just wonder how the people that have been living like this full time are making it work. What are the good and bad points about it?

Last year I sold my house & Jeep, and bought a used 5th wheel RV and Ford diesel truck to pull it. I can't think of any down side to this life, as I am now debt free and can move where and when I want. I am going to do volunteer work in a national park this summer in exchange for a free campsite with hookups. I have another job lined up in a warmer climate for the winter, as well as potential work for next summer. With the money I save on rent I hope to have solar panels installed within the next year. I'm living a life that is comfortable for me and using very little resources.
Martha

[manoucherie]

My husband and I lived in a van for a year, travelling but also to save money. We had a tiny woodstove meant for a boat and it was cozy and dry. My only suggestion is that anyone thinking of living on four wheels have a backup plan if the vehicle is impounded, broke, or stolen. Having a ladder on the top or "Joes plumbing" written across the side makes for good camoflage. Without a wood stove, keeping clothes dry and yourself from smelling musty are a challenge. We had a Colman propane stove to cook on, which was nice. Good memories.

[Boris859]

Hmm, this site got me to thinking about how much money i owe on my house and if it would benifit us to live in an rv. Of course i would not want to be here(michigan) in the winter and would want to live in a warmer state. Any one out their living in an rv? I just wonder how the people that have been living like this full time are making it work. What are the good and bad points about it?
when I was I kid there was this old man who lived just south of New Era, a small town near where I live,the guy had an old school bus for a house,had a woodstove for heat,he lived there quite along time,I drove by there a couple days ago and had a thought to my self how simple it would be to that if you had to,maybe dug into a hillside or something,that would help with drafts for sure,if you had a woodstove you can live anywhere(if woods available),seems you could probably even build a small one for a van,not sure exactly how to start it,but after an hour in a scrap yard I am sure I could find something that'll work ;)

[Cil]

I had some friends who lived in a motorhome for about 5 years after 9/11. IT AIN'T FREE LIVING!!! They never had any police problems because they kept to themselves and didn't party hearty. Remember to move your vehicle at least every 72 hours.

[walls0stone]

were they live'n in a van...down by the river???? ;D

Little SNL flashback for ya

[Cil]

No. LOL! It was a motorhome.

[michiganmom]

Thanks for the responces they are very helpful.
The reasons why this interests me is because we are in our mid/late thirtys and have 18 to 20 years left on our morgage. The boys are almost grown, one graduating this year and the youngest next year. My husband can not be out in the cold for long due to his back problems he gets severe muscle spasms and pain when he gets cold. All of that added up it seems like it would be better to live in an rv so we could go some where warm in winter and then back to michigan for the warmer months to see family. I know it would cost to live the rv life too but if we were free of this place and the rv was paid in full maby we would have a better life. I have been checking out alot of web sites on full time rving too but it will take some time to figure out what for sure will be best for us. What would You do if you were us? I would also like to get an rv and try living in it for a few months here before we give up this place but honestly it is getting harder and harder to keep up on the bills and with the boys starting out their lives as adults it sure would be hard to keep up on all the fire wood.
michiganmom

[gypsy97]

Michiganmom, you are approaching it right by doing a lot of research. There is so much freedom to move when and where you want according to weather and visiting. There are also a lot of workamping jobs available - free campsite & hookups - some private campgrounds pay wages over a certain # of hours, so you can make it work financially. I'm retired so I get some $ every month, but I am stretching those $ by volunteering to work in National parks in exchange for free site & hookups, = no rent!

I travel with my two dogs, but from what I hear you need to make sure you and your partner/spouse can live in a much smaller space that you will have in an RV. You really have to "get along". You also need to rid yourself of possessions you can't take along with you, or be able to store some things until you decide what to do with them.

Some RVers that I know stay only at nice resorts, eat out a lot, visit tourist attractions, and shop a great deal of time. They spend a lot of $ and if that's what they want to do I can't live their life for them. But there are also a lot who live frugally, use a bare minimum of resources, and enjoy the life as well, and I belong to that category. It's something you have to figure out for yourself, I guess, and I wish you the best whatever you do. I would be happy to answer any questions from my limited experience, but you really need to get a lot of opinions and then make your own decision.

gypsy

[Kyhome]

I could so do this. would be an adventure for certain. only needing money for taxes and tags food and fuel. with a never ending background sounds pretty good.

[jen_in_southtexas]

I think it is a great idea. Here are some interesting links worth puttin' in your favorites file.

This story is great. Lots to learn from this lady. There are more links attached in this article at the bottom of it. And they did this out of necessity!
http://www.off-grid.net/2004/09/16/on-the-ropes-and-off-the-grid/#

Another wonderful article worth saving.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/columns/wolfe050101.html


-jen

[gypsy97]

Thanks for the links Jen two very interesting articles. I eventually would like to have my son install a basic solar system in my RV, but that will happen next year, after I've worked some rent-free months in the national parks and saved money to pay for the panels & whatever is involved.

gypsy

[michiganmom]

Gypsy, thank you and i do have some questions for you. On an average how much does monthly rent run in the rv parks with full hook- ups. I also would have two dogs to take with us. We would be like you also about spending. I have been thinking on this pretty hard and so far i have come up with these exspensis, propane, food, fuel, full timer insurance, park rent, cell phone, toiletries and money put to the side for emergencies. If their is some thing i am missing please let me know. If we end up doing this we would have my mom get our mail and send it and have her hang on to a few keepsakes for us. We would be in a warmer state for the cold months but be back in michigan for the warm months here and i think we would not be paying much rent to park because we both have hudge familys and their is alot of them who would let us stay on the back of their land and also because of living here all of our lives we know where alot of state land is to park. The family would be offened if we did not come park at their place for a bit too so that would really help the budget. I also think the solor is a wonderfull idea, that would be great for dry camping.
I think i could be good at this, my husband and i are really close, we have had to depend on each other with our problems alot and are together every day as it is. Let me know what ya think.
Thanks
michiganmom

[Kyhome]

Jen thanks for the links pretty interesting reading

[michiganmom]

Ya Jen thanks, good info

[gypsy97]

Michiganmom, the monthly rent at a RV park can vary to a great degree. I stayed at one in Asheville NC for a week at $150, but if I remember correct, the monthly rate was $250. Here in Sacramento CA it is $550 at Cal Expo. I would say that is too much for me, except it includes the electric and the location can't be beat. I have 3 kids who live in Sacramento, and I am within quick driving distance of all three. There is sometimes a limit on the time you can stay at a park or campground: here it is 30 days, but they extended it because I was undergoing eye surgery and needed to stay put a while longer. I haven't yet found a park I can move to by March 3.

The KOA across the river in West Sac charges $725 a month, and I certainly don't want to pay that. The alternative is a park I really don't care for, at $450 + the elec is metered and I would have to pay for the amount I use. I use electricity conservatively, but I still like knowing exactly what the entire cost of my stay will be for a month.

Other places set a 2 wk limit, but it all depends on where you set down - in the countryside or small town, or near a large city, north or south, east or west. When traveling you try to find a convenient location along the way, and it is possible to get discounts depending on whether you join the Good Sam Club, Passport America, etc. If you can dry camp, there are places in the Arizona/New Mexico deserts where you can stay indefinitely, possibly having to move a few hundred yards every now and then. A google search of Quartzite (AZ) will get you lots of info on that.

I will re-read your last post and see if I can think of any other expense categories. My rent may seem high to some, but while in the Sacramento area I want to be close to my children, so there is no point in moving 50-75 miles away in order to get a cheaper rate, and then spend the money driving back and forth. I am 68 years old and try to live in the present for the most part, which is more difficult to do when you are younger and raising children, and have to consider farther into the future. I love the freedom that this lifestyle gives me - to do what I want to do, see my children and grandchildren, and to see the parts of this beautiful country that I haven't seen before, plus to volunteer the services I'm capable of performing for my country via National Forest Svc, etc. I'm a lucky woman.

gypsy

[jen_in_southtexas]

Your welcome. Be sure an save'em in your favorites file.

-j

[gypsy97]

I just looked at some of my expenses and came up with a few categories you didn't mention. I don't have a real good handle on what it is all going to run, but I am trying to keep good records for a few months so that I can project my monthly & yearly expenses and try to budget accordingly. I was fortunate to sell my house & pay cash for my rig, so I don't have mortgage payments to deal with. Also, there is just me + my two dogs, and I can eat really cheaply because I cook everything from scratch usually, and I don't eat out a lot.

You didn't mention medical insurance, copays, prescriptions, dental & vision care. My medicare & blue cross are deducted from my pension, so that money is taken before I even see it - a big load off my mind.

Pet care: I took my ex husband's very old dog when he died, and she has required vet care that I didn't count on. Plus there is the food I buy for both dogs.

You mention cell phone, but you probably will want internet access. Some parks have free wi fi, some charge a fee, and some (like Cal Expo) don't have it at all. I bought an AT&T Air Card which plugs into a usb port and gives me internet access for about $60 a month (plus the usual fees that are charged but you can never figure out why). That is in addition to my Verizon cell phone bill. I don't watch TV much at all - mine has been turned on twice between Dec and now. Moderate to heavy TV watchers pay for Direct TV or a satellite dish.

Laundromat charges - I can do my laundry much cheaper than a couple with two kids, but it still takes a lot of quarters!

There are safety & security issues that you can consider or may already have. I wanted a emergency radio that I could either plug into an electric outlet or run on batteries. The one I bought even has a crank that you can turn to charge it up, and I believe with the right connection you can charge your cell phone with this crank. It has NOAA weather stations plus emergency flashers & siren. I also bought (but my son hasn't yet installed) a Pressure Pro tire monitoring system so that I can tell at a glance when something goes wrong with one of the ten tires on my truck or RV. If I had a husband I would send him around to check all ten tires with a gauge on a daily basis, although getting to those dually inside tires would be a pain for anyone. I have one fire extinguisher in my rig and would like to buy another. Some of this is small stuff, but you need to think about the items you take for granted or haven't even considered. Because of weight issues I only brought with me the things I absolutely need, i.e., 4 place settings of Corelle, a couple of glasses, my coffee maker & toaster oven, and enough cookware that I can make a complete meal.

My RV came with a big generator that has never been used, so I will have to have it serviced before I go to my work in the National Park this summer as I won't have electric hookup.

Some of these are recurring expenses and some are one time only, but keep in mind that the little items really add up. Also, keep in mind that I only have to budget for myself, and if I run low on cash or have an unexpected expense, I can eat less or absorb it or deal with it easier than a family can. I can only try to describe it from my viewpoint, and anyone reading this can probably see ways they could save a lot, or maybe there are other expenses I don't have to deal with.

gypsy

[michiganmom]

Thank You Gypsy
This helps me figure out things better.
michiganmom