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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)

#311

Post by jordache »

Jaruzel wrote: post #296
jordache wrote: post #253

meh.. his dad is skilled for sure, but the insides looks like the stale interior of a house. Not a fan of the build

I have to agree with this. The concept is sound for sure, but all.. that.. wood... He's adding so much extra weight (and thus lowering his average mpg etc.), when a type of plastic (the slightly bendy stuff that cooking/food storage tubs are made of) would have been good enough, and also much lighter. The drawers under the bed especially - those in my opinion should be either wireframe and canvas, or based around pre…

uh.. it looks like a ghetto attempt at a typical RV interior... rather than something like a Westfalia or Sports Mobile..

I guess that's the difference between a company with more resources with a DIY job with supplies from HD.

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

#312

Post by lb1lf »

mudil wrote: post #109

I send my son emails with links to different interesting projects. He is ten. Too bad I can't send this one out. Why do people use foul language everywhere and in between? It's like a disease.

Now, personally, I am of the firm opinion that one should be able to make one's point without resorting to cursing. (Those who suggest otherwise are fing ids!!!)

That being said, the conviction that kids should be protected from cursing puzzles me. When I was a kid, a sure-fire way to get me interested in something was for my parents to say don't go there; forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest, etc.

Now, I'd appreciate it if my kids didn't run around cursing all the time, but I think it would be much more effective to explain to them that yes, some people curse; it is a manner of speech, often a way of stressing a point. I don't find it necessary, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't, either.

Chances are kids will be exposed to the f word and others on a daily basis, anyway.

The occasional fking this, fking that in this blog does hardly make it less interesting or suitable for a kid. IMHO, of course.

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

#314

Post by mamarjan »

sAvi0r wrote: post #203
scotty79 wrote: post #151

Or you could just move to Poland. $33,750 could buy you studio in any medium town in Poland, even in sub-million population cities. You'd get: no mortgage, apartment with a toilet, clean running water, wifi and all the electricity that you'll ever need. 5-10 times more area for your stuff. Monthly cost of utilities, tax and fee towards building maintenance of about $150 in total, access to a lot of young, English spe…

What's considered a medium town in Poland? I was checking out housing in my dad's hometown in Serbia, and it's like a shitty agricultural town pretty far from anything notable with a population of ~12,000 and a place was still like $40,000-50,000CAD.

Well, it's probable that no new houses are being built in the place where you were looking for a home. The local community is probably strong too, so not many people are moving away.

I can tell about Novi Sad (250k people, nice university, nice city center etc.), you can indeed get a livable flat for one or two people without kids for anywhere between 20k-35k euro. Though there are still some downsides to living in Serbia.

However, I was born and I still do live here as a freelance software developer (maybe at 30 hours/week, including time for learning new stuff), mostly Rails, nothing fancy, and I can tell that with a family of 4 I'm still saving 75% of my after tax income. Without trying hard to save money. That's what's keeping me from moving westward.

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

#315

Post by vocatus_gate »

ryandrake wrote: post #150

I always read these stories with a sense of awe and wonder. "I took 2 years off of my totally boring office job to X" where X is something that is 1. expensive and/or 2. not generating income or not nearly as much income as Boring Office Job. How the hell does one live without their salary for 2 years without going into debt or depleting savings? Don't you people have student loans to pay off, medical bill payments,…

This guy "Nomadic Matt" has a great explanation of how people do it. It's much cheaper than I would have thought.

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/

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

#316

Post by jordache »

lb1lf wrote: post #298
Jaruzel wrote: post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to agree with this. The concept is sound for sure, but all.. that.. wood... He's adding so much extra weight (and thus lowering his average mpg etc.), when a type of plastic (the slightly bendy stuff that cooking/food storage tubs are made of) would have been good enough, and also much lighter. The drawers under the bed especially - those in my opinion should be either wireframe and canvas, or based around pre…

-As one who has toyed enough with the idea (not to live in permanently, but for overlanding) to start kitting out a Land Cruiser 78 to make it liveable, I'd agree with most of your points - though presumably, if he mostly sticks to highways or at the very least properly paved roads, mpg shouldn't suffer too much from a couple of hundred pounds of additional weight. My one MAJOR gripe with his build, is the water jerr…

I didn't have all the comforts but in many ways I like my ghetto truck cab home much more

http://imgur.com/a/KhxS3

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

#317

Post by vocatus_gate »

lesdeuxmagots wrote: post #59

I 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.…

Link?? Photos???? You can't just mention this and not provide pictures!

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

#320

Post by roel_v »

matt_wulfeck wrote: post #276

> If you work 40 hours, 9-5, then Monday and Tuesday are dedicated to paying for your house. Every week. If your housing was paid off, your weekend would be longer than your work week. Isn't this only true if you don't have a fixed rate mortgage? If you bought a house in the 90s then I'm almost sure you're paying less than the average of rent your house might fetch. I've never amortized the cost over the lifetime of…

Yes, the OP's economic analysis is amateurish at best. Also, only the interest part of mortgage payments are a 'cost' at all.
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