Author Topic: Has anyone considered living in a van?  (Read 3833 times)

swampwiz

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Has anyone considered living in a van?
« on: May 15, 2018, 06:00:22 AM »
I was watching this video about this woman living in her van:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EupRH9K5y8


PC2K

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2018, 06:43:02 AM »
Yes, but with current work and mortgage on my apartment, certainly not a fulltime thing I want to do now and also don't find it that appealing to do full time. For a few months; sure. But personally, my body starts to protest after 3 weeks playing outside and everything needs a good wash to get the funk out. So doing if full time seems annoying. Then again I'm pretty active during trips.

Currently just go to official campsites, have a popup tent for quick weekend trips and trips are free for me, as I'm an instructor for a club.

big_slacker

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2018, 06:59:23 AM »
It can be a great option for people that want to travel and do a non standard career. Low housing cost, no space to allow for consumerist spread (you really consider if something will enhance your life cause it take physical space), freedom of location.

Downsides are having to have a location independent job, hard to have long term real relationships (not just a single spouse, but friends), might be hard to schedule regular activities and the big one is kids if you have them I don't feel work well. Watch the documentary "Surfwise" if you don't agree, particularly the interviews with the grown up kids.

All in all I think a really cool life but you need to look past the youtube videos and instagram pics and consider what that life really is like. Good news is it's something you can easily do until you don't want to do it. :D

DS

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2018, 07:57:28 AM »
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/post-fire/anyone-traveling-in-living-in-a-van-or-rv-or-similar/

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/urban-van-dwelling/

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/van-dwelling-not-as-low-cost-as-i-thought!/

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/vandwelling-and-fire/

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/case-studies/case-study-i-live-in-a-van-how-soon-can-i-retire/

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/fire-in-a-sprinter-van/

http://www.stealthsprinter.com/

http://themorningfresh.com/

For those looking for information:


BOOKS:

Vanabode - Jason Odom -- (it is 100% a how-to book, and it has a VERY MMM/ERE slant)

The VanDweller's Guide - Romana Starfield (similar to the Vanabode book, with some more technical details on setting up a solar system and plumbing, but not as good overall)

Any Road will take you there - David Berner (haven't read it yet)

How to Live in a Car, Van, or.... - Robert Wells (Haven't read it yet)

Turning a cargo van into a road trip adventure vehicle - Roger Steen (haven't read it yet)

Wide-Eyed Wanderers - Richard Ligato (Ego from the forum) - This is a travel book, not much how-to

Drive Nacho Drive - Brad Van Orden - another travel book mainly

Walden on Wheels - Ken Ilgunas - Not much about how-to, more of a biography of his life up to van-living


BLOGS - the ones I read the most:
http://63mph.com/   
http://www.tosimplify.net/ 
http://www.arestlesstransplant.com/ 
http://wheresmyofficenow.com/


BLOGS - others from my feed. Many I haven't read yet:

http://campervanculture.com/
http://www.drivenachodrive.com/
http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/
http://mobilecodgers.blogspot.com/
http://ouropenroad.com/
http://www.frugal-rv-travel.com/rv-blog.html
http://wheretheheartisusa.blogspot.com/
http://gypseajourneys.blogspot.com/
http://happynomadgirl.org/
http://johnnyvagabond.com/
http://www.ruinedadventures.com/
http://www.stealthvandweller.com/
http://tortugaplata.com/
http://www.vantramps.com/
http://www.wanderwith.me/


YOUTUBE CHANNELS - ones I watch the most:
https://www.youtube.com/user/WheresMyOfficeNow
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq4g9QUsCrCgPgG_fKEiHrQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV7BvFPyD5Lixoo8yMRiLA

YOUTUBE CHANNELS - Others:
https://www.youtube.com/user/kelseyjoyy
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiyiTqpss-ihtLHz-juFxIQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwc-4z3oQd7SNM2r_WFzrSQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1RNJS2MMyN1DkQNZAdMKRQ    (Conversion videos)
https://www.youtube.com/user/werkbook/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/RubberTrampsReviews/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/westfaliawanderings/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgr4nckG_V0f0QM-byzI5Q/videos

Aegishjalmur

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2018, 11:23:53 AM »
Yes, and DW and I are currently doing this with our 2 old dogs. We live out of a Dodge Ram Promaster(high roof). We had spent 6 weeks doing  it over the past 2 years to make sure we could handle it and that it wouldn't stress the dogs out. We sold our house mid April and have been doing it fulltime since.

So far we are loving it but if you plan on doing it, especially with another person, try it out before committing.


Mrs. Rocker

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2018, 02:29:48 PM »
We live and travel full-time in a 25 foot long motorhome. It's a great life! We purposely bought a smaller motorhome as it allows us to park in a multitude of locations without worrying about fitting. There is plenty of room in the motorhome including a king size bed and we are very comfortable in it. We follow the weather by traveling south in the winter and move north as it warms up. We blog about our journey and track/post monthly expense reports as well at offourrockerrv. See link in signature.

Hedge_87

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Dicey

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2018, 03:06:07 PM »
Sad to report that Glenn Morrissette of "To Simplify" fame (and a personal hero) is no longer blogging. He is now exclusively on Instagram, I believe.

https://www.instagram.com/tosimplify/?hl=en

Not the same, as he is a superb wordsmith and thinker, but better than nothing. Still Good Stuff, as Glenn would say,  just pithier.

BTDretire

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2018, 03:20:32 PM »
Here's a young lady that started out a little bored, found she could transfer to California within the company she worked for. Then realized her second job had a place to shower and since she was rarely home. wondered, "why keep paying rent. She started ling in her car, then a jeep, and now, a van.
  She discusses making money, dating, relationships, top 10 places to park, Challenging Societal Norms,
Showers&Bathroom / Hygiene&Health, Mail/Address & WIFI/Power the list is long, she has about 50 videos.
I was very inspired when I started reading about her journey.
 She got good at video production over the couple years she's been traveling.
This is a good one that shows her enthusiasm for---everything!
 Her van still has more modifications to go at the time of this video.
If you don't have 17 minutes, start at 12:00 (her describing her epiphany)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKhf_XarJmE
And this is her Youtube homepage with all her videos.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFAu5dzHq3BJvZsO58N8fXA
  Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2018, 03:27:44 PM by BTDretire »

ThatGuy

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2018, 04:01:49 PM »

afox

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DreamFIRE

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2018, 05:39:36 PM »
I've thought about a Roadtrek small RV van to do some slow travel with when I FIRE.

use2betrix

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Re: Has anyone considered living in a van?
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2018, 07:27:02 PM »
Having spent two months and 8000 miles traveling in our 4Runner with off-road trailer/tent/annex, the primary things I missed were: own bathroom, own shower, AC. If the van had those things (AC when parked) I would find it much more pleasing.

My wife and I have lived for years in a 42’ 5th wheel that is a breeze. We want to downsize to something smaller that we can move easier during our time off work. I love the idea of an airstream with the nicer finishes, cabinets, etc, however you lose a lot of space not having slides.