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How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

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Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#41

Post by [deleted] »

dublinben wrote: post #27
sliverstorm wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it deserves to be slightly more nuanced than that. There is a category of things that are small, used rarely, but very necessary. Medicine & tools always come to mind. For me, if I don't use my screwdrivers for a year that doesn't mean I should get rid of my screwdrivers.

Arguably, it means just that. If you only use a tool once a year, you should just borrow/rent them when you actually do need them. Our lives are cluttered with occasionally used 'just in case' items that we really don't need.

[deleted]

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#42

Post by protomyth »

Jemaclus wrote: post #24

I love this idea in theory, but my wife would never go for it. Ah well... Maybe get an RV for longer camping trips...

Something in the Coachmen Prism range is not that much more expensive and has a shower. You can find some interesting deals on them because people tended to buy and realize RVs aren't for them.

I guess you could also buy an RV chassis as one heck of a do-it-yourself project.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#43

Post by artimaeis »

marknutter wrote: post #32

So why didn't he just buy an RV? Not to take away from his accomplishment, but isn't this just the most engineery thing to do? Instead of leaning on another industry that has spent decades perfecting exactly what he is trying to build, he spent all the time he could have used actually exploring the world building what is certainly an inferior solution in every regard.

The cost alone would be a major motivator to go the van route. Class B motorhomes are the least expensive and even they are about $50k new from what I can tell. Sure you can save money buying used but I figure for an apples to apples comparison you'd want to limit it to new-only.

That said, I'd probably agree that a better solution would be had for spending the additional money. But this project is pretty darn cool.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#44

Post by irrational »

grecy wrote: post #6

I did something similar. I wanted a vehicle I could explore the world with, so I turned my Jeep into a house on wheels with fridge, drinking water and filtration, solar and dual batteries, interior cabinets and a custom modified pop-up roof so I can stand up and walk around in the Jeep. I joked about applying for a home owners grant :) The full pictures and story are in this album - http://imgur.com/a/OLK3o I'm drivi…

You drove from Alaska to Argentina? How did you drive through the Darien Gap in Panama?

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#45

Post by et-al »

cylinder wrote: post #31

Did you consider buying a camper van? They are quite common as a lifestyle traveling around Australia, in the US people use giant RVs but these are not practical at all and not a conscientious selection.

#vanlife was on the fringe about 5 years ago, but it's starting to gain wider acceptance in the US. I would hope that within five years Volkswagen will finally bring the California T6 to the States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_California

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#46

Post by jordanlev »

I absolutely loved reading this. I liked how he went into it cautiously, testing out whether he could get by with a small fridge, small bed, less possessions, etc. And I also appreciate the web page design itself -- one long vertically-scrolling piece, very easy to read through!

One thing I find ironic though is the attitude towards other people who make a different decision about the worth of a home and the mortgage. Does he not realize that his van was only possible because his parents owned a home, raised him there, and let him park the van in their carport for 40 days while building it out?

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#47

Post by protomyth »

grecy wrote: post #37
marknutter wrote: post #32

So why didn't he just buy an RV? Not to take away from his accomplishment, but isn't this just the most engineery thing to do? Instead of leaning on another industry that has spent decades perfecting exactly what he is trying to build, he spent all the time he could have used actually exploring the world building what is certainly an inferior solution in every regard.

One word: Stealth. He can park this van on virtually any street in the world and sleep for free, and nobody will be the wiser. Try that in an RV and many places the police will be called on you in 30 minutes.

I would think parking a commercial van on any old street might get some reactions. Plus, he's pretty much in the US, so there are many box stores that allow RVs along with quite a lot of rest areas.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#48

Post by jdavis703 »

cylinder wrote: post #31

Did you consider buying a camper van? They are quite common as a lifestyle traveling around Australia, in the US people use giant RVs but these are not practical at all and not a conscientious selection.

This will cause undue attention from meddlesome neighbors and cops.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#49

Post by artimaeis »

jandrese wrote: post #38
sliverstorm wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you really have to do it in a van. If you're going to work remote and don't mind being lonely, you can buy a house just about anywhere in the country, which means you can find a house for $50k instead of $500k. If you check out his list of things he likes about van living, most have more to do with working for himself rather than all the traveling. He doesn't come across as one of the wanderlust folks.

All of the work to make this van livable could have just as easily been done to a shack in the woods. The biggest hurdle these days is reliable internet if you want that. You would need a better bathroom situation than "the nearest McDonalds" too, but well water is often an option. The one question he didn't answer is how he bathed. It's very easy when you're living as a lonely bachelor to slowly morph into Grizzly A…

He mentions showering at the gym a few times through the piece. Also that he exercises daily - so I'd assume a membership at a nation-wide gym? It'd be a bit much for me personally but I can fighting said Grizzly-ness with his method.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#50

Post by [deleted] »

jordanlev wrote: post #46

I absolutely loved reading this. I liked how he went into it cautiously, testing out whether he could get by with a small fridge, small bed, less possessions, etc. And I also appreciate the web page design itself -- one long vertically-scrolling piece, very easy to read through! One thing I find ironic though is the attitude towards other people who make a different decision about the worth of a home and the mortgage…

[deleted]
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