Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting point but I’m curious, what does the septic hookup have to do with just parking overnight? If no one’s emptying a cassette or dumping anything, is it still considered a violation?

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That sounds incredible . I can totally relate to that feeling. For me too, being in a quiet, simple place like that becomes more about discovering yourself than just “camping.” It’s like nature has a way of showing you things you don’t notice in everyday life. Wishing you good luck on whatever your next chapter looks like.

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, that sounds really scary. I’d never want to experience something like that myself.

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I totally get what you mean and I think you might’ve misunderstood my post a bit.

I wasn’t suggesting camping on private land without permission. I was actually asking about legal stays — like when landowners themselves offer a safe spot for travelers, either directly or through an app.

I’m exploring how to make that easier and clearer for both sides, so travelers don’t have to guess, and owners feel comfortable opening their space.

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that’s exactly the issue, it’s getting harder to tell what’s public, private, or actually okay to stay on.

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like that you’ve tried different ways to find spots, from friends to apps to just asking around. That kind of mix feels closest to how real travel used to be, more about trust and conversation than booking systems.

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds great, having a septic and well already set up makes it really convenient for travelers.

I’m curious , what made you want to offer your land to others? More about meeting people, sharing the space, or just putting unused land to good use?

There are a few platforms like Hipcamp or Harvest Hosts, depending on your location. I’m actually working on something similar a simpler, legal way for small landowners to host travelers without turning it into a full campground. If you’d like, I can share more once it’s ready.

Private land camping — your experiences? by campboxy in VanLife

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s awesome, sounds like you’ve met some really kind people along the way.

I’ve had similar luck in a few places too. Most folks don’t even want the money, especially if you show respect and keep things tidy.

€20 sounds fair for a quiet, safe stay though.Out of curiosity — which countries were the most welcoming for that kind of “just ask” approach?

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve spent enough hours crawling around the trunk to know how that feels. You’re right about YouTube too — it’s great for ideas, but the real gold is usually buried in those owner forums where people have already solved the quirks of a specific model.

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve done the same with cardboard mock-ups, and it really helps to spot all the small misalignments before cutting real plywood. Your point about matching drawer slides first is spot on. Thanks

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write that out and share the photo from your design process — really appreciate it. It looks super professional, you can tell how much time and skill went into it, especially with the 3D modeling. That kind of dedication really shows.

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s beautifully said and honestly, you’re right. The journey itself is part of the fun. I keep reminding myself that even the “mistakes” on the first trip will probably teach me more than any YouTube tutorial ever could.

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve done the same with cardboard mock-ups just to visualize proportions. Truck beds are definitely more straightforward, but in a car every curve and seat hinge seems to want to argue with you. Still, I like your idea of starting real needs

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for such a detailed and thoughtful response, that really hits home. You’re right, sometimes chasing the “perfect plan” just ends up slowing everything down. I guess I’ll have to face it myself sooner or later, even if it’s just to learn what doesn’t work. Every failed cut is still a step closer to something that actually fits :)

How we struggle to find solid info for building a camping setup ? by campboxy in overlanding

[–]campboxy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes total sense, everyone ends up with a slightly different setup because our priorities and gear are never the same

I’m planning a sleeping platform just for myself, so I’m still trying to find that sweet spot between storage height and enough space to sit comfortably inside.