Come on, voidqk. We all know your dad built this camper van while you took the selfies. His work shop says it all.
How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
51–60 of 351 posts
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#52So 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.
Because RVs suck for a lot of things. First, you're restricted where you can drive. You won't be touring the finer dispersed camping sites down some bumpy, rock-strewn forest road in an RV. Or even (for example) Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier NP if your RV is outlandishly large. Second, anything bigger than a camper van and your choices of paid campsites is reduced. For instance, over the U. S. Labor Day holiday I'm camping in a state park spot restricted to vehicles 16 feet or shorter. Our VW Westfalia is fifteen feet long. Lastly, for me personally, I just don't want to drive something that big.
So buy a camper van? Meh, you could. Good luck, because there's a reason we ended up with a 35 year old VW instead of new. Despite having the money for new, we were at a loss to find something that wasn't outlandishly expensive or outlandishly large. Sure, there are the Sprinter conversions...for north of $100K. I'm not throwing dogs in a vehicle that costs more than my first house. There are other options, Campmobile and the like, and when the Westy dies we'll probably go with something like that. But plan ahead, because it's not like they keep those on the showroom floor, and though fairly-priced IMO, still spendy. So in the end, we just got a turn-key Westfalia. But it's 35 years old, so you better be ready to turn a wrench, which the author said he wasn't. That leaves building his own.
What I really want is a brand new VW pop-top van, as are still sold in Europe. But those don't go to the U. S. :-( I imagine that since one can buy a bigger Class C (or a lightly used baby Class A, even) for around $60K, $60K for a small pop-top VW isn't going to be a big hit in the "bigger is better" U. S. Me, I'd pay the $60K because it's smaller, but I'm obviously in the minority.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#53>, I have a pee bottle and a 5 gallon jug. Line the jug with two trash bags, and cover the poop with kitty litter. Then toss it in a dumpster. 1.is this legal to dump trash in somone else's dumpster without owners permission? 2. Is it ok in the US to dump poop in dumpsters? I know nursing homes incinerate poop but not sure if there is a law specifically against dumping human waste.
2.) Baby diapers?
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#54I am having a hard time with this article. On the one hand, it resonates with me DEEPLY.
"Sure, it's cliché, but it's cliché for a reason -- this subconscious drive for freedom is hard-wired in our DNA. No modern comfort or toy can take the place of true autonomy."
On the other hand, I can't deny certain life comforts. Relationships come to mind when considering a life like this. Sure, living frugally on the road while coding your own project sounds exhilarating. But I wonder how I'd feel without my significant other?
I guess what I want more than a life in a van, is economic freedom with a home.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#55The fact that one (in a lot of countries) has to do this in a van, because of regulations, is kind of tyranny: Either you get in-prisoned in debt/rent, or you get to live in a van or on the streets.
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.
> you can buy a house just about anywhere in the country, which means you can find a house for $50k instead of $500k.
Hell, depending on weather you can buy naked land and live in a shack or a tent.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#56Did 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
Sprinters, Ducatos, Transits, and NVs (not to mention old school Expresses/Savannas) are already available here, so I'm not sure what a VW California T6 would offer that the others wouldn't.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#57I'm genuinely curious - why did he do all the repairs in his house before selling it? Was the market for housing that bad that he couldn't sell it as-is for the new owner to do repairs?
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#58I 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…
I think it is a bit of a stretch to say that it was _possible_ only due to his parents home. Easier and cheaper sure.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#59I did exactly this! Bought a used NV2500, went to town. Took 7 months to build. Have closets, cabinets, cooktop, sink, wood floors, butcher block counters, fridge, electricity via solar, bed, etc. etc.
I knew nothing about insulation, wiring, woodwork, power tools, etc. and learned everything as I built it.
Was not cheap, because I didn't want to give up any luxuries, so breakeven is in a matter of years, not months. However, its been treating me well. I have spots that I prefer in South Bay and in San Francisco depending where I'm working out of.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#60In the 1970's TV series Trapper John, M.D. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapper_John,_M.D.) one of the characters, "Gonzo", is a doctor working alongside Trapper John, while living in a motoro home ("The Titanic") in the hospital's parking lot.
Man, think of all the money you can save if you have a good income, and live in a motor home virtually for free.
Gonzo legitimized the whole concept. :)