Post: #51

(11-05-2012 10:10 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  Rio Nomad I see you drop place names like Mendocino and Humbolt in this thread. I've been smoking strains with those names for years,never knew they were named after places. People smoke a lot of weed up in those places or something? Mind blown!

As to the RV idea,sounds awesome. Thinking of kitting out a van and hitting Europe for six months each year in tbe summer. Stick a kayak on top and hit the resorts of Italy,France,Spain,Croatia,Greece etc. cheap way to do it and probably a mad adventure. Anyone know a good van to convert for this purpose?

I'm so turned onto this idea!

The VW Camper Van is the classic for touring Europe. Much smaller than the US RV's which would cost a small fortune in Europe with their petrol prices. I'd probably get a tent and or awning as well to increase the living space.

Used to be a place in the UK were they sold you a VW van and "guarenteed" that they'd by it back at 70% of the value after X months of travel. Though I wouldn't expect to be able to hold them to the deal.

Post: #52

(11-05-2012 10:40 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(11-05-2012 10:24 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  Yeah they're called the same here Mech. I'll check out prices. Cheers.

Check this out..
http://www.outsidevan.com/camping.php

Damn,you can really begin to dream looking at that site. Some of those interior conversions look better then the interior of my apartment.

I need to work out my budget and think seriously about what I really need in an RV and then go from there.

(11-05-2012 01:04 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  The VW Camper Van is the classic for touring Europe. Much smaller than the US RV's which would cost a small fortune in Europe with their petrol prices. I'd probably get a tent and or awning as well to increase the living space.

Used to be a place in the UK were they sold you a VW van and "guarenteed" that they'd by it back at 70% of the value after X months of travel. Though I wouldn't expect to be able to hold them to the deal.

Yeah we pay ridiculous fuel prices so I definitely need to consider MPG when purchasing. My parents had a VW camper when I was a child and we toured Europe in it. I'll give my old man a bell and see what his opinion on them is.

I drove to Russia from London in 2008 in an estate car ( don't know what Americans call those types of cars ) and it was awesome. Pull up where you want and I just slept flat and comfortable in the back after pushing the back seats forward. I obviously had no internal sink or toilet or cooker but I just parked up at a service station at night and used there toilets. Had a wash in rivers. It was pretty epic but I don't think I'd be able to handle that lifestyle for too long,need a van with a few more home comforts.

Post: #53

I'm not sure that I want to live in one full time, but I bought a 20' camper to see if I'd like traveling in it a bit. Visiting family I frequently have to spring for a hotel room, so this will save money.









Baffroom:


Warning, DO NOT leave your black tank valve open, the shit will not drain out as you flush and will build up and ruin the tank. Only the grey water can be left open!

There are some handy apps to help you while traveling, I have RV Parky and Sanidumps in addition to a website I've hit up for cheap places to stay. So far in my state I found a few small towns that built tiny campsites on the outskirts which are nearly free to stay on ($8 a night for elec/water).

If this turns out to be a lot of fun and a future lifestyle I will buy a real one (btw a loan on this can have the interest deducted on taxes, mine counts as a second home) that could be livable full time. One thing that does help a lot, is my business now has it's own office so there is free easy storage for a small portion of my stuff.

Ah yes, and pulling this one my beater Ram truck gets about 14 mpg.

Post: #54

I have a huge interest in vandwelling, microhomes, etc so this is right up my alley. I have never lived in an RV but have used them for extended travels across the country and stuff. Terrible on gas but as long as you don't plan on doing too much driving not too bad.

To get a better idea the pros and cons of living in an rv as well as how to deal with heat in summer, cold in winter, etc lok up some youtuve videos on vandwelling or rv living, people can make them pretty compfortable. You can get this heater called a little buddy for pretty cheap which runs on propane, is safe to burn inside an enclosed space and keeps the place warm for cheap. Also check out a forum called cheap RV living.

I think your biggest challenge will be finding a place to park it. An rv you definately cannot live on streets and parking lots or you'll be hassled by the cops but with vans people do "stealth" living where they will live on the street, in apartment building parking lots, etc. Home Depot and Walmarts sometimes allow people to stay for free but only for a night or two and you have to be pretty lowkey and respectful with it no sitting out in a lawnchari wtih a 6 pack sunning or anything like that. Ifyou want to get a legit spot in an RV park it's not cheap your probably looking at about $30 a night which kinda outweighs the whole saving from living in an RV. If you have any friends who live in houses in unincorporated areas or without strict assocations maybe toss them $50 or $100 a month to park in their driveway and maybe use the kitchen, bathroom and electricity occasionaly.

I think watching some youtube videos on vandwelling and checking out that cheap rv living forum will give you an idea if you wanna do this or not as well as teach you some tricks to make it as cheap and comfortable as possible.

Post: #55

Post: #56

Keep in mind living in a van or rv can actually be more expensive if you don't plan it out. Living in a van or rv you have to pay to wash your clothes at laundro mats which is expensive, can easily fall into eating every meal at restaurants, because lack of storage constantly having to buy little things like scissors or whatever else for every little thing you need and probably oftentimes having to toss them after using them if you know your not gonna use it regularly, due to space.

Definately check out some of the youtue vids and the forums and people have all types of tips on how to get a good cooking setup ie propane burners, maybe a small manual washing machine so you can pay maybe $50 upfront and wash your own clothes vs spending $5 or $10 at a laundromat everytime you gotta do laundry. Also, knowing inside info such as where to take a cheap shower at a truck stop or gym, where to park for free or cheap, places with free electric hookups etc.

Post: #57

This was up on the beeb today:

Quote:An ex-Google worker has revealed how he lived at the firm's campus in Mountain View, California, for 54 weeks between 2005 and 2006, kicking off a trend.

Matthew Weaver told the BBC that he had been dared to spend a year based out of a campervan parked on one of the company's lots.

He added that while he believed he was the first to do so, several others later followed his lead.

Google and other major tech firms are renowned for the perks they give staff.

"They had three meals a day at the cafeteria and there were showers at the gym that were also on campus, so I would shower at the gym, eat at the office," Mr Weaver recalled.

"There was a free laundromat on campus, so I could wash my clothes.

"There were all sorts of rooms with pianos and foosball tables [table football], and all these kinds of things, so I had plenty to do when I was taking a break from work.

"And we had places in the parking structure where I could work on and maintain my bicycle."

Quote:He added that he had been comfortable with the lifestyle, but eventually moved out because it had become "a bit weird" to explain it to women he was dating.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29146961

Post: #58

Next summer I'm thinking of getting an RV myself, and a truck to go along with it (Ford F-150 perhaps, they seem to haul pretty good up to 11,000lbs).

I've been very interested in summer living in an RV. Travelling around prairie Canada and the Midwest and central USA.

It would also come in handy for work if I'm on a pipeline project in the bush. It would save me having to use up my living allowance, and just pocket it.

Does anyone know if its worth investing in an older RV, from the early to mid 90s? I've seen quite a few on kijiji in my area for around $4-5k. I wonder what their reliability would be like, they seem pretty sweet on the inside.

Post: #59

I think RV can work only in certain circumstances.

Travelling in RV will cost way more (burning lots of gas, RV park fee and maintenance) than just driving around in your car and getting a motel at the end of the night.
It doesn't make sense unless you have bunch of people so the cost per person goes down and you can spend most of time in the back by switching drivers.

I think it will work if you are planning to stay in one area few weeks at a time (so you don't drive around wasting gas)
If you are planning to stay few months, it would be better just to rent a room (one month is hard but few months wouldn't be too hard)
You also have to stay in area that draws tourists and offers wilderness. I can't imagine parking RV in a trailer park in a city. Places like that will have lots of trashes you don't want to deal with. RV park near tourist spot would be different though. you can also park some empty lot near the mountain and beaches.

As far as what would a girl think about you goes, they will think it's cool if you are travelling in RV. If you are local and have a job locally, then it would be better to hide it lol

Post: #60

Parking is going to be the toughest thing. Most cool places you will want to park near beaches or near the coast or things like that will have no parking or no camping sings all oer the place and rv parks and things like that in places where you would want to be are probably going to be $35 plus per night which isn't crazy expensive but if you're doing the rv thing looking to save money that kinda wipes out any savings.

If you wanna do the rv thing you really need to do a lot of research and read on forums from others who do this fulltime, they have all the tips and tricks, know which businesses let you park in their lots for the night without problems, etc.

As far as girls, it's all about how you frame it. If you're a brokeass living in an rv because it's cheap not really that desirable but if you're passionate about small space living, if you love traveling, if you're looking to do something a bit offbeat for a year then you could change it into something cool. Alot of younger chicks and hippy type free spirit chicks would eat this shit up.

Not specifically geared towards rv,s but check out that new show tiny houses or something like that on the FYI network, shows you some of the challenges of living in small spaces as well as some tricks and tips

Post: #61

Yes, keep in mind moving that trailer or RV can get expensive. Pulling my light trailer with a v6 Ram is 13-14 MPG.