Living in a van and wanting advice infographics appreciated

[Anonymous No.900779]

Looking for advice, just started researching today on youtube but would appreciate some advice from some anons .

[Anonymous No.900875]

>>900779
You'll need more ventilation than you think. Humans transpire a shitton of water, and it will make your van smell like a gym sock from a hooker's ass.

[Anonymous No.900878]

Why are you living in a van? Why wouldn't you live in your house?

[Anonymous No.900896]

>>900878
Freedom I suppose

[Anonymous No.900914]

>>900896

I'm guess I'm asking for context. Is this long-term? Camping? Where is the van parked? Is OP homeless?

[Anonymous No.900919]

On le Reddit got to /r/vandwellers

[Anonymous No.900920]

forgot rare pic

[Anonymous No.900921]

>>900920
Holy fuck, what is this wondrous thing?

[Anonymous No.900925]

>>900921
Holy fuck, read the filename

[Anonymous No.900949]

>>900920
I really dig that car. I'd buy one.

[Anonymous No.900950]

>>900878
I don't have a home. Wanna try and live in my van shower at the gym and work. It's what I normally do anyways. Rent is to damn expensive and why not?

[Anonymous No.900951]

>>900920
Thanks for the pic

[Anonymous No.900985]

>>900920
Australia was a mistake.

[Anonymous No.900993]

One advise:
Unless you've got enough money for (un)limited 4G/LTE internet.

Get a WiFi USB adapter with a connector for an external antenna. And a small or big Yagi antenna (specific for WiFi ofcourse) antenna.

that way, you can use someones unprotected WiFi from a bigger distance. You'll thank me later!

[Anonymous No.901055]

>>900993
Sounds like a great idea, my concern would be mounting it in a stealth way. looking at 99 chevy express.

[Anonymous No.901063]

surprise to me than this wasnt posted yet

[Anonymous No.901065]

>>900919
Fucking this.

We have far too many of these threads.

You're too poor and too big of a pussy to actually do it OP. Why act like it's not true?

[Anonymous No.901066]

>>901063
another version of this

[Anonymous No.901069]

[Anonymous No.901131]

>>901065
Not this anon, im doing it. got till jan 2016. i will post results

[Anonymous No.901135]

>>901069
>>901063
That's a dream version. I am going with a barebones chevy express also looking at a chevy express explorer edition which is alot nicer.

[Anonymous No.901136]

>>901131
how far are you?

[Anonymous No.901139]

>>901136
I have not started, will have bough the vehicle by Tuesday. add wiring for lighthing and solar. Then I am going to insulate and add a top vent, then I will start on the wood frame for a bed and sink.

[Anonymous No.901141]

>>901139
budget? van make, model?

[Anonymous No.901143]

>>901141
budget 4k
van 1999 chevy express base model
im looking a 99 chevy express explorer edition which is really nice. He hasnt returned my calls, so im waiting on this one before buying the base model.

[Anonymous No.901150]

>>901143
consider a panel van as alternative.

[Anonymous No.901364]

>>901055
They come in many sizes. Build your van the way you want it set up, and then look into finding a spot where you can put it.

I'd store it inside the van when I'd be driving or parked somewhere anyway. If I need WiFi, I can set up the antenna on a small pole just a feet above the cab. Make sure you can sway the antenna in another direction, yagi antennas are very directional.

The higher the dBi value, the better

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR6.TRC2.A0.H0.Xwifi+yagi.TRS0&_nkw=wifi+yagi&_sacat=0

[Anonymous No.901374]

>>901069
>>901063


Can someone explain to me _WHY_ 800 watts of solar power isn't hugely overkill. All those batteries are gonna tank you milage too.
I'm really new to this vandwelling stuff and I'm looking into setting up a similar system in a cabin in the woods.

IMO, all you need is
-run some lights for 6-8 hours max
-Laptop which consumes 60Watt per hour, charge it 2 hours a day while using, and you still've got a full laptop battery for the next day (which nowadays lasts you at least 3-7 hours anyway)
-Charge a tablet, smartphone (5-12 watts per hour, 10+ hours battery life when fully charged)
-Charge some other small USB appliances like a small bluetooth boombox
-Charge AA/lithium batteries and small things like that for flashlights and walkie talkies (get a pair!)

You'll never do any of that all day, every day.I think that if you'd be a bit economical and trim down on your use, you can be done with half of that power. Are y'all gonna couch potato in a van in the middle of nowhere? Watch TV all day and night?

[Anonymous No.901384]

Also,

Buy an RTL-SDR dongle, you can use them for many different things
>view DVB-T Television if that's broadcast in your country/state (that's what they were made for)

The SDR portion is really useful
>Decode Police chatter
>listen to general emergency services
>Listen to FM Radio
>scope out walkie talkies and other wireless devices
-listen/decode satellite chatter
>it's basically a wireless receiver for anything between 25-1700MHz
If you buy a Baofeng UV-5R or UV82 you can talk back and troll with people.


>Or just buy a CB radio to talk to people on the road

[Anonymous No.901401]

>>901069
This is maybe nice for pygmies but come on, you can't sleep in a car sideways unless you are really short...

[Anonymous No.901570]

what're you planning on doing for cooking/food?

[Anonymous No.901629]

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/

[Anonymous No.901759]

Park it down by the river.

[Anonymous No.901775]

>>901065
Well put.

Ambitious enough to think they can pull off the fully portable home thing using advice from a cartoon picture board, but not ambitious enough to do the bare minimum it takes to not be fuckin homeless.

Perhaps they think DIY stands for "Dream It Yourself", except substituting "yourself" for "everybody else".

[Anonymous No.901847]

Always keep it clean. Once mold takes over you're fucked.

Never underestimate how damp it can get

[Anonymous No.902192]

>>900779
Bumping for interest, I have 6,200 saved up. I'm ready anons!

[Anonymous No.902203]

>>902192
Checkout
>>901629

Great site geared towards beginners

[Anonymous No.902222]

>>901374
>watts per hour
Watts are a rate of energy usage. Multiplying watts times time gives you watt-hours, which are energy. Watts per hour would show change in power over time, and isn't really useful here.

I'd say that is a big system, but keep in mind that you may or may not park in the sun, or in a good enough place to get the right exposure. Then again you could probably cut back on the number of panels if you can get to a place to plug in and charge, or start the engine up enough.

The important thing is to make sure you don't let the batteries stay undercharged for too long, as that will shorten their lifespan. Ideally plan for your max time between charges to be about 50% the battery's capacity. Then, you want to have enough charging ability (solar, engine, etc) to bring them back up to full charge. Try to do it each evening.

[Anonymous No.902247]

>>900779
Instead of a van what about a box truck?

[Anonymous No.902302]

>>902192
make plenty posts about the experience somewhere anon.

[Anonymous No.902311]

>>902222
Solar ain't good or winter. Better to tie into the alternator and have a EU1000i Honda generator on the side.
Allows better stealth which allows more places to park and less attention.

[Anonymous No.902321]

>>902311
I never mentioned using it as a complete replacement for the alternator plus an isolator. Solar's fine in the winter, if you don't mind sweeping snow off the panels. Bright winter days can still be good for production.

As far as stealth having a way to detach and stow the panels would be good, as well as some extra cable. That way if you parked out away from people, you'd have the option of parking in the shade and putting the panels in the sun. A Honda generator like that would be good to have too, but it's not really stealthy unless you're stupid enough to run it inside the van.

[Anonymous No.902336]

>>902311
>generator
>stealth

- pick one. I know Hondas r supposed to be 'relatively' quiet - but 'relative' (in the world of generators) is nobodies idea of stealth.

[Anonymous No.902352]

>>902336
He means you can park and still just look like an ordinary van (not many ordinary vans have solar panels)

[Anonymous No.902475]

I tried living in a van, it sucked. It was much better when I bought a 1990 Ford E350 Coachman for $5800. In the summers I park at a really nice camping spot on the Cedar River (Iowa) for $70/mo which gave me access to electricity and water. In the winter, I park at work or close to it. I did it to save money while I worked and because I wasn't sure my job was going to last.

[Anonymous No.902536]

>>902475
The whole point of a van is stealth urban camping. That's why you need a van! If you get one, make sure it comes with headroom and standing room. Let me guess it was heat, cold, not enough space/headroom and it didn't have all the comforts you needed or wanted? This Life style is really for minimalists and near survivalists. It's by no means comfy and that's fine with me.

[Anonymous No.902571]

>>902475
My plan is to use it to save money and save up for land while working.

- First live in the van to save up the downpayment on the land.
- Get land and start developing a homestead (logging, planting) while having a secure place to park and live.
- Pay off land and save for down payment on a garage with a loft apartment.
- Live in apartment while continuing to make property improvements
- Ultimately save enough for a larger home

This would be in a rural area (Canada) of course where land is cheaper and no busy bodies spying in. Also, off grid which would add to the up front cost. But some money making ideas like milling my own wood, maple syrup from surrounding land in winter (cliche I know), local farmers market, bee hives, harvesting salt, etc.

[Anonymous No.902622]

>>902536
A 1990 Ford E350 is a good mix between a van and an RV, you can still park in most normal parking spots and stealth urban camping is very possible (which I know, since I do it). I switched because costs were about the same, and living in a mini-rv was 20 times more comfortable. There really wasn't any Pro's of living in a van instead of class B RV, just a lot of Cons. Even when it came to stealth parking.

[Anonymous No.903351]

>>901364
>http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR6.TRC2.A0.H0.Xwifi+yagi.TRS0&_nkw=wifi+yagi&_sacat=0

thanks I am keeping tabs on this thread.

[Anonymous No.903354]

>>902475
I wish there were places like that here that charged 70 a month

[Anonymous No.904746]

Where do you sleep if don't live in out in the middle of nowhere?

[Anonymous No.904759]

I wish I was you. Living in anywhere but an actual house or a trailer/caravan is illegal in Finland.

[Anonymous No.905008]

>>900875
This.

[Anonymous No.905248]

how do you bring home chiks?

what would they think?

[Anonymous No.905480]

>>900875
Yeah, life sucked back when we didnt have spray on hydrophobic surface coatings.

Neverwet FTW! Spray in on everything not rubbed up against (it wears off quick with contact) Walls, cabinets and more importantly under and behind things.

[Anonymous No.905540]

>>902571
good luck with the syrup, it's actually super illegal to do it in canada without a lisence and if they find you, you're fucked. Even if you don't sell it, you're fucked. It's insane, I know

[Anonymous No.905559]

>>905480
>being this naive

The use of hydrophobic materials or coatings does not mean moisture would not manifest.

I have a van that is plastic lined throughout the back - still builds up a huge amount of condensation during winter.

I don't even know why I'm bothering to reply to something this dumb. The van itself being a sheet metal powder coated body would be hydrophobic. Doesn't make a difference if someone is living in the back with all their worldly possessions.

[Anonymous No.905563]

>>901759

Be sure to stock up on candy

[Anonymous No.906388]

>>905559
Hydrophobic surfaces. Condensation. Me being naive.
Ok sure thing buddy.
Water accumulates on a surface that repels water? Curious.
So when I coated the entire inside of my uninsulated sheet metal camper, that didn't make the condensation stop by literally not allowing water to condense, it was a coincidence?

Good bait.

[Anonymous No.906391]

>>906388
Plastic doesn't absorb moisture. Are you trying to tell me condensation can't form on it?

[Anonymous No.906392]

>>906388
>person living in van
>expels moisture when breathing
>little ventilation by design
>hydrophobic lining
>???
>profit

Yeah great logic bud

[Anonymous No.906394]

>>906391
>>906392
So what your telling me is you thing a impermeable surface is the same as hydrophobic?
Plastic is not hydrophobic it condenses like glass. Hydrophobic means it REPELS water. Hence the only place it has to go is the vent, not on the walls, not under your sink, it has to stay in the air where it is easy to manage.

What is the misinterpretation here folks?

[Anonymous No.906395]

>>906391
A lot of plastics are hygroscopic.

[Anonymous No.906404]

>>906394
Well, I'm not the other guy but I would have thought that if you stopped condensation on the walls from happening in a badly ventilated space the result would be humid air and mould problems on your bedding.

[Anonymous No.906436]

>>906394
>misinterpret

I said my van was lined with plastic. You said hydrophobic. My point was regardless of what you line it with, it doesn't solve the problem.

>in b4 plastic isn't hydrophobic

I gathered what you meant, it doesn't disprove my point.

>stay in the air

You've never seen rot on a van have you. Regardless of what you have used to line it, moisture won't just 'hang' around so to speak and you'd have to do a fucking bang on job to stop it. Examples: caravans, campervans. These are built for purpose and still have moisture build ups on and within walls and wall linings.

>cost
If I were to spend 30/40/50k on a camper or caravan and they aren't lined with your illustrious hydrophobic guff, who the Fuck is going to use it in a van.

[Anonymous No.906505]

>>901374
>Are y'all gonna couch potato in a van in the middle of nowhere? Watch TV all day and night?
DON'T JUDGE US, /out/!

[Anonymous No.906593]

>>906436
I dont know whats with all this aggression. Go ahead and enjoy winter in your van with your sweat and breath condensing on every surface before it can be vented.
Just saying you can fix that for $17 down at the hardware store.
You got your damp plastic walls and your happy good for you.
My camper doesn't rain my breath down from the ceiling in the morning anymore and I was trying to share that joy with strangers. You showed me the error in my ways.

[Anonymous No.906603]

>>900779
Some anon dumped a nice library here:
>>906310

[Anonymous No.906816]

I dont understand what is so important about urban stealth?

Unless youre trying to hide the fact that youre homeless of course...

Im going to build my own mini trailer that i can haul on my bike.

[Anonymous No.906819]

>>900779

Ask this guy.

[Anonymous No.906823]

>>900878

rent is too damn high

vandwelling is very popular, especially since most jobs are being automated or being sent overseas.

[Anonymous No.907053]

>>906823
So true but vans are not the best longterm solution.

[Anonymous No.907058]

>>907053
They can be stealthy and parkable too.
http://www.doityourselfrv.com/u-haul-box-truck/

[Anonymous No.907142]

>>906819
lmao

[Anonymous No.907444]

>>906816
DO WANT

[Anonymous No.907458]

>>907444

[Anonymous No.907543]

>>906816
>what is so important about urban stealth?
Maybe cops in your area are prices? In high school we would drive around, smoke, drink, fuck, drop acid, etc because it was less likely you would get hassled by the fuzz. Just as long as you kept rollin you were fine. Park in a parking lot, behind a store, public park, drive way of it off town neighbor, chips would eventually find you.

Having a friend with single mom that worked second shift or an RV with curtains would have been perfect. And safer than any presumed threat potheads and diddled daughters could have caused.

Besides, the main family physician in town has just about every girl in town on the pill, because he was discrete, had a convincing up sell technique, worked pro bono, all for the opportunity to give what I heard was a very thorough breast, vag, and rectal exam. After all, 16yr Olds are at the pinnacle of risk of cancer.

[Anonymous No.907579]

>>901374
>all you need is 100w

lol enjoy dying of heat in your metal coffin.