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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)

#161

Post by sliverstorm »

Domenic_S wrote: post #97
Joof wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He could have done it at a friend's or his own home after another short stint of saving.

His dad's woodshop (& expertise) was critical to the build - note that dad did all the cuts into the body of the van. There's nothing wrong with it, just a reminder that we never really do anything alone . Personally, I'd rather have the shop than the van ;)

I noticed that too.

Not to be too critical, but reminds me of a woman I know who pitches how great & easy & wonderful it is to buy complete fixer-upper cars and houses and make something great out of them. But if you read her posts on the subject, you realize her father is a contractor, her husband is a mechanic, and they do most of the work.

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

#162

Post by toomanybeersies »

Speaking of minimal living, I've just recently moved to a new city for work, and I've shacked myself up in a backpackers, and plan on staying at the backpackers probably until the end of the year.

It has a lot going for it. It's cheaper than rent (by a significant amount), and it's literally 3 minutes from work. I also get to meet lots of interesting people.

I have my backpack and a laundry bag of kit, and that's it. It's about as minimal as you can get, which has been an interesting experience for me as I usually have stacks and stacks of stuff.

It does have some disadvantages, such as being rather noisy, and the fact that you have to carry all your valuables around with you wherever you go, since things tend to go missing.

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

#163

Post by gutnor »

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…

He owned a house before, so that's a moot point, he could have used his own house before selling it.

But of course his lifestyle is enabled by his environment. It is easier to do that in the US than in Europe, easier in the Western World than in the third world, easier if you started off as a developer rather than a min wage employee with the burden of student debts, easier single than couple with kids, easier as a man than woman, ...

If you are one of the richest man in the world (not the 1%, just above average in one of the richest country in the world), which is pretty much the majority of HN, this is an interesting alternative lifestyle.

Note that it is oddly reminiscent from the 7/80's hippies. I just wonder if just like them, some of those people will settle down one day and make a 180 turn on everything they valued when they were younger.

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

#164

Post by toomanybeersies »

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…

Oh man, I remember reading your reddit post, and pooh-poohing your idea as stupid and irresponsible.

I reckoned a Jeep was about the worst possible vehicle for the job, that you would break down and be stuck because nobody drives Jeeps in Africa. I still believe a Landcruiser, Land Rover Defender, or a G-Wagen would've been a better choice in terms of parts and repairs, but it seems the Jeep has held up fine.

I'm actually quite happy to have been proven wrong. Congratulations on a safe and fun trip!

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

#165

Post by tedmiston »

cko wrote: post #85

I'm a full-time pharmacist working 50 hours a week, with several investment rental properties. Since April of this year I've been sleeping in my 2002 Toyota 4Runner in the parking lot at work. Shower at the gym, infrequent laundry runs, hang out all day at the library with all the other strange people. Pros: feeling of simplicity and freedom; enough said. Cons: a mid-sized SUV is too small and not private enough. I w…

This lifestyle sounds interesting. Is it inspired by choice or necessity?

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

#166

Post by tedmiston »

aresant wrote: post #9

His "Can I live without my precious possessions?" answer is the most engineering LOL thing I've read all day: "Pile up my crap. Anytime I need something in the pile, take it out of the pile and save it for later. Monitor usage." Thank you for posting this.

This is also the best way to buy (or not buy) stuff.

See thing. Want thing. Add thing to wishlist. Forget about thing. See thing again, bump it up on wishlist. If I still want it 30 days later, consider buying it. I end up not buying 90–95% of things I instantaneously wanted this way.

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

#167

Post by tedmiston »

zyxley wrote: post #16
aresant wrote: post #9

His "Can I live without my precious possessions?" answer is the most engineering LOL thing I've read all day: "Pile up my crap. Anytime I need something in the pile, take it out of the pile and save it for later. Monitor usage." Thank you for posting this.

This but slightly more organized is pretty much the standard answer for anti-hoarding: put all your stuff away, keep track of what you actually use over the next week/month/year, and get rid of anything that hasn't been touched.

Conveniently this has helped me every time I've moved. It's happened more out of engineer's laziness than anything else. Eventually you don't unpack a thing enough times that you accept owning it won't change your life.

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

#168

Post by got2surf »

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…

Awesome build - was that a DeLorean in the garage in http://i.imgur.com/wqXRJVp.jpg? Great taste in cars!

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

#169

Post by microcolonel »

icantdrive55 wrote: post #101
jdpigeon wrote: post #11

This would have appealed to me about two years ago, but not that much anymore, and I'm still close to a decade away from paying off my student debt. I'm more interested in 'settling down' and 'getting to work' these days, realizing that my sense of personal success is mostly dependent on quality relationships, productivity, and a sense of community belonging. Now, I've done my fair share of living life on the road, a…

Girlfriend? I don't know--maybe it gives off the right advertising. Meaning, if you don't want all the trappings of a conventional lifestyle; I'm that guy. A great opening line, "Do you want to avoid hiring a lawyer in the future to fight over assets? Do you want to avoid sitting in a cubicle the rest of your life? Do you want to never have this thought, "Would I be with him if we didn't have that house, and kids?" I…

Yeah; I'm hearing this as a reason more and more often. People's paranoia is overwhelming and CPS/CAS is often duty-bound to investigate. I was abused as a child, and no CAS tip could have saved me. Meanwhile, they are surely making it very difficult for normal people to raise children. It's basically illegal to let children play in the back yard.

I still want to have kids though; I don't get how even these tangible concerns can turn anyone off the idea. The chemical and emotional wonder of the idea is overwhelming to me.

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

#170

Post by tedmiston »

sliverstorm wrote: post #125
ceejayoz wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't sound all that ethical, and you've now spent two 30-60 minute round trips to a store for want of a $5 tiny tool you used to own.

Sometimes it's actually completely all above-board. You buy the tool- but it's well-worn and has no packaging, because a hundred other people have bought & returned the same tool before you. Autozone is one example, offering this service for things like bearing presses and radiator pressurizers and so forth. They don't make any money on the tool in this case; the play is, if you have access to you'll do the work your…

Autozone is one I've heard frequently. I think they even rent tools for free when you buy parts from them.
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