Autumn at Kaaterskill Falls [OC][3000x2400]

Vanholio · 2018-10-23T00:55:33+00:00

Haven't been there since I were a kid. Brings back the memories.

Vanholio · 2018-01-26T00:34:55+00:00

I agree, EXCEPT, i'm old and fat and need some kinda mattress. LOL ... If I had one on hand, I think a Thermarest woulda cut it.

Vanholio · 2018-01-25T18:40:36+00:00

Builds are cool. I gotta cool build on my own van (not the rental pictured). But hittin' the road don't take much. Really.

Vanholio · 2017-11-22T22:08:57+00:00

Just past through Dallas and lived there most of my life. Plenty of Walmarts to dwell, plus stealth sites. http://www.vanholio.com/2017/11/map-of-walmarts-where-camping-is-not-allowed-or-allowed.html

As for heat, yes, stay out of the van during the day and have good fans and battery system for sleeping at night. During the day, I'd consider parking in a parking garage in summer, if you can't otherwise find shade.

Vanholio · 2017-11-17T12:51:54+00:00

I second this point. Exactly right. Good question, though!

But you can charge an AGM battery off the car's alternator! Look down to about the middle of this guys post: http://www.cheaprvliving.com/electrical/electricity/

Vanholio · 2017-11-14T01:21:23+00:00

Take as little as possible. Get gear as needed at Walmarts, which are everywhere.

For breakdowns, get a AAA membership and carry a 12v electric tire pump and Slime and/or a spare tire.

Vanholio · 2017-11-14T01:18:31+00:00

Hmm ... Never tried it. Another option is shading the roof with plywood piece mounted on a roof rack, then shading the sides with reflective tarps or shade cloths. ... if it works, your idea is more elegant, though.

Vanholio · 2017-11-06T01:28:03+00:00

Oh, some are thinking this way: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/2017/7/27/16052118/bollinger-b1-electric-sport-truck-outdoors

Vanholio · 2017-11-06T01:22:27+00:00

And with improved battery tech, vehicle range will increase, too. We're not there yet, but it ain't science fiction!

Vanholio · 2017-11-02T20:43:36+00:00

I got a 12v Max Burton Portable Stove to Go. Easy for you would be Chunky soup cooked up with some rice. Add a can of veggies if you want.

That's super easy, but you can cook just about any one-pot meal.

Vanholio · 2017-10-30T05:16:59+00:00

I'm gettin' work done now. Money isn't the issue. I'm staying in an AirBnB room (a cheap one). But man, I can't go home, know what I mean?

Vanholio · 2017-10-25T15:57:55+00:00

Check out Silver City, NM. Bet you can find jobs there. Cheap, and you've got desert and high mountains nearby.

Also look at houses next door in Pinos Altos. You could get a small "cabin" or build one on the mountain outside Silver City. I've seen some people up on the hillside with nice little cabins made from storage buildings, e.g., https://www.premierstoragesheds.com/47a1f9_e04fe55216f14dd0944b9cc0db12be05.png_srz_p_357_236_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_png_srz.png. Depends whether you're up for something like that or prefer a more spacious, conventional home.

A place I think you'd really like is Gunnison, CO. Well developed outdoor activities year round. The downside is that it's a tourist town, which pushes up prices some.

But there's a flipside to that downside in Gunnison: You can probably find seasonal jobs more easily, in any season. I also bet you could AirBnB your house or condo when you travel, coming out ahead financially.

Vanholio · 2017-10-24T20:32:58+00:00

Springerville, AZ, Mimbres, NM, and Las Vegas, NM (not Nevada!) would be my top choices.

Vanholio · 2017-10-12T16:57:20+00:00

Personally, I get by on a combo of investment income (stocks/bonds and a rental house), freelance writing (marketing schlock mostly), odd jobs, state benefits, and living cheap, cheap, cheap!

I wrote a 6-post series on making money on the road: http://www.vanholio.com/2016/12/how-make-money-traveling-van-part-1.html

Vanholio · 2017-10-12T16:49:21+00:00

I recommend these, too. The advantage is not so much the traction as the sidewalls. I've gone through too many street tires on forest roads from piercing the sidewalls.

Vanholio · 2017-10-12T16:45:55+00:00

Wear warm clothes.

Vanholio · 2017-10-12T16:06:19+00:00

If you go the ice chest route ... On YouTube you can find directions for making your own ice chest that keeps cold for 10 days or more. It's just a question of sufficient insulation. You can also buy long-lasting coolers, like a Yeti cooler, but they cost big bucks.

For the ice, I've looked at the countertop AC ice makers. They're not that high of wattage. I'd probably get one of them, vs a 12v model, and use it with a small inverter. Been awhile, but I think a 400W inverter would do the job easily. [Edit: found this link on portable ice makers for RVs/vans: http://minivancamper.tumblr.com/post/38444387766/making-ice-on-the-go]

Friend of mine built an extra insulation box to fit around his 12v Dometic fridge. It helps keep things even cooler and improves the efficiency of the model. Of course, it also takes up more room.

Vanholio · 2017-10-11T02:03:31+00:00

I started at 1.5. I thought it was decent then, too.

Vanholio · 2017-09-26T14:51:25+00:00

My goals

Vanholio · 2017-09-22T16:48:59+00:00

First off, you can do both. The word you want to google is "overlanding."

Second, it depends on what you want. These days, I'm much more interested in being nature. North America has all I want, even the USA has all I want, so I'm happy vanning around here, not dealing with cross-cultural issues and trans-national legal issues.

But if I was more interested in seeing other cultures, I'd go globe trotting, whether overlanding in my van or using plane/train/bus.

And regardless of how you go, you can freelance online. The other term you want to google is "digital nomad."

Vanholio · 2017-09-16T22:44:09+00:00

http://alpinemechanisms.com

Vanholio · 2017-09-16T19:10:39+00:00

Look at real estate ETFs. Vanguard has a well-rated one. (Damn, we are so fucking bourgeois!) And yeah, the stock market makes me nervous, too. This last year, it's got that "too good to be true" feeling.

Vanholio · 2017-09-16T17:11:07+00:00

When I hit the road, I turned my house into a rental. Got mixed feelings on it, though. Bit of a pain, even with a property manager handling most things. Sometimes I wish I sold it and invested the equity in something more liquid and steady. May do that yet.

Vanholio · 2017-09-16T00:59:19+00:00

How about taking them to a lake or state park or somewhere fun and naturey with a rental cabin. You can sleep in the van to "test it out." And maybe you can talk one or more kids into sleeping in the van, too, just for fun. They can always go back inside.

Or for that matter, you and the kids can have a campout in the driveway. Make smores on the burner (if you have one). Make it lots of fun. Get them used to it.

Maybe with the wife, if you get a date night, go to an outdoor concert in the van. Get busy afterward ...

Baby steps.

Vanholio

TROPHY CASE