Tag: Van

FAQs

Since we have shared our plans to live as nomads, we have been getting many questions on how we are planning to live this lifestyle.  I have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions.  However, I would like to emphasize that this is our PLAN, and once we are out there ANYTHING can change.

Believe it or not the most frequently asked question is:

  • How will you do your laundry?

We are planning on going to laundromats.  There have been various times in my life when my only option was a laundromat so I am no stranger and really it isn’t that bad.  You put all loads in at the same time so it is quicker than doing it at home one load at a time and some laundromats even have free wifi these days so we can work on the computer and not burn up our own data plan.  I think we may need to keep rolls of quarters on hand for the washing machines and dryers.

  • Where will you put your clothes?

There are cabinets above the bed where we are planning on storing most clothes. Two cabinets for each of us.  I am going to try to compact clothes into various packing cubes.  We will not have much, it will be outdoor adventure gear for the most part.

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  • Where do you go to the bathroom?

At first, we are planning on staying in campgrounds with toilets available.  However, the van does have a porta-potti.  It is not plumbed into the van, it is a separate device with a 5 gallon holding tank.  Supposedly you can empty the tank into any toilet, but I really have no idea how that works.  We will need to figure it out eventually because we would like to do some dispersed (free) camping on BLM or Forest Service land to lower our costs which means NO services.  One step at a time! We have plenty to learn.

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The Thetford Porta Potti Curve

 

  • Where do you take a shower?

For the most part we will be taking showers at campgrounds.  Also, some National Parks, RV Parks, laundromats and truck stops have pay showers that you can use whether you are staying there or not.  The van does have a tiny shower that we can use in between REAL showers, but water and space are limited in the van shower.

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Tiny shower

  • What types of places will you stay in?

To start off I think we will stay in campgrounds.  The van does have the ability to be plugged in to the electric and water at a real RV park, if we choose to do that, but so far I have been turned off to the RV parks.  The ones I have seen look like big parking lots.  I prefer spaced out campsites with trees in between.  Since the van has solar panels that recharge the batteries automatically that run all the electrical devices and the heater and hot water heater run off the diesel in the gas tank we would like to learn how to “boondock” – camping for free on public lands with no services.  All in due time.

  • Are you giving up your apartment?

Yes.  No reason to pay for an apartment when we are not there.

  • Where are you storing your furniture?

When we moved out of our house, the quality large furniture was sold on consignment.  Now we do not have much left and most of it will go to Salvation Army or Goodwill.

  • Where are you going?

Mostly in the US, with a short stint in Canada, I have always wanted to see the Canadian Rockies.  We are going to chase the weather.  We will be in the northern part of the country in the summer and the south in the winter.

  • How will you get mail?

We have signed up for a traveling mailbox.  They scan your mail and email you.  If you want, they will forward it to where you are.

  • How are you getting health insurance?

The health insurance laws and rules seem to change every year. We are using COBRA for the rest of this year and we will reevaluate next year.

  • What kind of gas mileage do you get?

The van gets about 18 MPG based on our short trips so far.  It is a diesel engine.  Diesel is cheaper than gas at the moment.  Fuel will be a constant expense.

  • What are you doing about your doctors?

Neither one of us has any chronic illness requiring constant medical visits so I don’t think this will be an issue.  Also we are planning on coming through town next spring to take care of any visits to our normal dentist/doctors and take care of any local business we may have.

  • Where do the bikes go?

The van was built with a platform bed with space underneath specifically for the bikes.  A bracket was installed to clamp the fork into after removing the front wheel.  More on this later.

  • How long is the van?

The van is about 22 ½ feet long.  This is short by RV standards.  We are hoping we can take it places where normal RVs cannot go because of vehicle length restrictions.

  • How high is the van?

I believe the van is about 9 – 9 ½ feet high.  This will be an adjustment, we will always need to be aware of what is above us, like low hanging trees.  We cannot go into most parking garages or any low roof situations.

 

The Adventure

Things are coming together.  The Adventure Mobile has been purchased, a rough plan of travel has been devised and a start date has been chosen.  The biggest remaining task at this point is getting rid of whatever will not fit into the Adventure Mobile.

The Adventure Mobile that we selected is Mercedes Sprinter cargo van which has been converted into a camper van.  The idea is that a van is more agile than a real RV and we will be able to get into more beautiful places than if we had a large RV or travel trailer.  For example, there are many beautiful mountain passes with vehicle length restrictions.  The van is about 22 feet long so we are hoping we can bring it many places.  We do not have 4-wheel drive however, so we will be limited on primitive dirt road conditions.  We are striving for a minimalistic lifestyle that values experiences rather than material possessions.

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Here is a possible travel plan for our first year of travel, however we are not totally committed to any of it.  We want to keep things flexible, be able to stay longer somewhere that we want to explore further or leave someplace if the weather is unpleasant.  We both enjoy weather watching and forecasting so this will be a very important aspect of our new lifestyle.  This plan includes some National Parks that we have been wanting to visit and family and friends scattered all around.  However, once I saw this plan on a map, I couldn’t help but wonder if it is just too much driving.  I want to spend time immersed in nature, not stuck in the driver’s seat…  or more likely the passenger seat.

We are planning on starting out before the low desert of Arizona heats up too much.  Last summer we vowed to NOT spend another hot summer here.  This is a great place to be in the winter, but summer is uninhabitable. We do planning on visiting the eastern side of the country, we both grew up there, but I know my heart belongs to the west.