VanDweller Community Forums

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Forums
  • Gatherings
  • Store
  • Find a Campsite
    • Arizona
      • Moving Camp to Cottonwood, AZ
      • Camping in Quartzsite, Arizona
      • Gorgeous Camp near Wickenburg, Arizona
  • How To Articles
    • How to Choose a Vehicle
    • How to Stay in Touch
    • Cooking and Meal Suggestions
    • Simple Kitchen Tips
    • Staying Clean
    • Laundry in Five-Gallon Buckets
    • Getting Rid of Stuff
    • Toilet Options for Van Living
    • Living on the Road with Pets
    • Staying Healthy & Fit
    • Safety for the Solo Traveler
    • Homesteading for Vandwellers
  • Electrical
    • How to Have Electricity
    • Cheap & Easy Ways to Get Electricity
    • Installing a Cigarette Lighter Plug
    • Installing an LED Light
  • Heat & Cold
    • Dealing with Heat and Cold
    • Warm in Winter/Cool in Summer
  • Solar and Wind
    • Basics of Solar Power
    • Solar Power Demystified
    • How to Install Solar Panels
    • Installing Flexible Solar Panels
    • Solar Panels on a Fiberglass Roof
    • Installing a Wind Generator
    • Solar Hot Water & Electricity
    • Stealth Solar
    • Cooking with a Solar Oven
  • Van Conversions
    • How to Live in a Conversion Van
    • Converting an Astro Mini-Van
    • Living in an Ambulance
    • Living in a Class B
    • Living in a Pop-Top Class B
    • Dodge Sprinter Conversion
    • A Couple in a Van
    • Living in a VW Vanagon
    • Family Vandwellers in a VW Westfalia
    • Easy Van Conversion
    • Inspiration: Charlene’s Story
    • European Vandweller
    • Steve’s Van Conversion
    • Dodge High-Top Conversion
  • Other Conversions
    • Living Out of a Prius
    • Living in a Boat
    • Full-Size SUV Conversion
    • Living in a Converted Cargo Trailer
    • Build Your Own Camper
    • How I Lived in a Bus
    • How to Live in a Ford Festiva
    • How to Install a High Top
    • Stealth Cargo Trailer
    • Ingenious Camper Shell
    • Living in a Step-Van
    • Survivalist Truck Dweller
  • Money
    • How to Make and Budget Money
    • Money Matters
    • Workamping
  • Philosophy
    • The Two Million-Year-Old Man
    • Embracing Minimalism
    • Needs vs. Comfort vs. Luxury
    • Finding True Freedom
    • Gaia Theory
    • Why Vandwelling is Greener
    • Understanding Carbon Footprint
    • Quotes to Inspire You
    • Christmas Dinner 2013
  • Adventure
    • Live For NOW–Not Tomorrow
    • Say “YES” to Adventure
    • Say “YES” to Adventure: I Skydive
  • Boondocking and Stealth Parking
    • Dispersed Camping On Public Land
    • Living/Camping on Public Land
    • How to Live Off-Grid in Cities
    • Where To Stealth Park
    • Tent Living Off-Grid
    • Exploring Slab City
    • Dry Camping in an RV
    • Tent Living in the Desert
    • Boondocking

  • View New Posts
  • View Today's Posts
  • Search
  • Misc
    • Portal
    • Member
    • View Forum Rules
    • Help Docs
Login or Register Hello There, Guest! Please Login or Register to gain Full Access!
Login
Username:
Password: Lost Password?
 
    Forum
  1. VanDweller Community Forums
  2. Site and Forum Help
  3. Vandwelling topics that don't fit in other areas
  4. The adventure begins
Pages (17): « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 … 17 Next »
 
Thread Rating:
  • 1 Vote(s) - 4 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Thread Modes
The adventure begins
SheketEchad
aka VanDitz
****
Posts: 420
Threads: 9
Joined: Jan 2012
Reputation: 9
#21
09-06-2019, 07:23 PM
Wow, you've done a lot in a very short time. Nice set up as well. Happy trails to GA, thankfully you weren't on the road THIS week! Look forward to reading your Captain's Logs.

"Introverts are collectors of thoughts, and solitude is where the collection is curated and rearranged to make sense of the present and future."  Laurie Helgoe

sunflowersolacefarm.wordpress.com
Website Find
Reply
highdesertranger
Moderator
******
Posts: 21,376
Threads: 274
Joined: Apr 2012
Reputation: 482
#22
09-07-2019, 08:23 AM
nice review I liked it.

couple of things I want to point out,

if you have a positraction/limited slip/a locker or any other type of traction device on your axle, running 2 different size tires will destroy the axle.

I guess it's ok where you are at but out here in the west you are not allowed to dump your cassette into pit toilets and potta potties. something to keep in mind.

highdesertranger
Find
Reply
cherterr
Matt Foley RULES!
****
Posts: 315
Threads: 39
Joined: Jun 2015
Reputation: 7
#23
09-07-2019, 01:17 PM
Nice thread!

 1999 Chevy Express, "MoonGlobie" +  Granny Cabin

" If you don't want Solutions, you want Arguments."

Website Find
Reply
MG1912
Posting Freak
****
Posts: 165
Threads: 6
Joined: Jun 2019
Reputation: 9
#24
09-07-2019, 04:23 PM
(09-07-2019, 08:23 AM)highdesertranger Wrote:  nice review I liked it.

couple of things I want to point out,

if you have a positraction/limited slip/a locker or any other type of traction device on your axle, running 2 different size tires will destroy the axle.

I guess it's ok where you are at but out here in the west you are not allowed to dump your cassette into pit toilets and potta potties. something to keep in mind.

highdesertranger

Many thanks! I do indeed have the 10.5" Sterling 3L rear axle 3.73 limited slip. The truck camper folks gave me the same info, and we decided we would only put the spare on the front axle (and only in an absolute emergency).

Thanks for the heads-up about proper cassette toilet disposal in the West. I'll remember it!
Find
Reply
MG1912
Posting Freak
****
Posts: 165
Threads: 6
Joined: Jun 2019
Reputation: 9
#25
09-10-2019, 06:12 PM
Here is an extreme example of how high the step-up into the camper can be. This was the most level location I could find on the pictured field, where I stayed for two days, on top of a hill that dropped off precipitously at the back of the camper. Most locations won't be this bad, but it does illustrate the height. I may soon be looking into an after-market step solution.

[Image: Pvsk7Bf.jpg]

In other news, I finally weighed my rig at a CAT scale today, with all of my gear in the truck and camper, a full fresh water tank (40 gallons), a full tank of diesel, and a full cassette toilet reservoir. Front axle is at 4,920 lbs. Rear axle is at 6,760 lbs. That is below my GAWR for each axle (5,000 lbs. and 7,000 lbs. respectively), so that is a huge relief. I'm slightly over the door jamb sticker GVWR, but that was calculated for the weaker, stock 275/70R18 tires. I currently have 295/70R18 tires rated at 4,000 lbs. each. My truck has the Sterling 10.5" axle rated at 9,500 lbs., so I believe I should be fine with the current configuration of the truck and suspension.
Find
Reply
SheketEchad
aka VanDitz
****
Posts: 420
Threads: 9
Joined: Jan 2012
Reputation: 9
#26
09-11-2019, 03:33 PM
You're going to need a grappling hook for that first step! And don't forget at night 0_0

"Introverts are collectors of thoughts, and solitude is where the collection is curated and rearranged to make sense of the present and future."  Laurie Helgoe

sunflowersolacefarm.wordpress.com
Website Find
Reply
MG1912
Posting Freak
****
Posts: 165
Threads: 6
Joined: Jun 2019
Reputation: 9
#27
09-15-2019, 10:31 PM
I’ve now been living in the camper for 2 ½ weeks. I have never owned an RV before, never had a truck, and never lived in a vehicle before. It has been a learning process. I’m glad I’ve taken a few weeks to stay close to family and the camper dealership as I ease into this new lifestyle. Everything is new to me. Yesterday, one of my propane tanks ran out of LP. I’ve never had to deal with propane tanks before. I had done a lot of research ahead of time and knew the solution was to switch the regulator over to the other tank, but I didn’t know how to actually do that. I had to Google it and then, hesitantly, do it. Last night, my batteries dipped to 12.5 volts, and the ZAMP charge controller told me the batteries were half-full. This is the first time I’ve run my batteries down to 50%. I had never plugged a 30 amp RV to a house before, so that was a learning experience. Thankfully, I had a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter. And today, I emptied my Thetford cassette in a public bathroom for the first time. I walked into a Rite-Aid and just asked the manager if she didn’t mind, and then I wheeled my Thetford cassette into the men’s room.

Before I got my truck in July, I had never even changed a tire before. Since then, I’ve jacked the truck up and taken all of the tires on and off several times -- when we installed the shocks, upper StableLoads, and mud guards. I’ve had to learn how 4x4 works and when to use it because I’ve actually needed it a few times in hilly and muddy terrain here in rural New England. I got a truck tire pressure gauge that goes to 100 PSI and a VIAIR air compressor, which I had to learn how to use this morning for the first time in order to bring my rear tires up to 80 PSI. It took me 15 minutes because the first thing I had to do was unpack the VIAIR air compressor…. and stare at the unassembled parts I didn’t know anything about.

My cousin, the mechanic, laughed at me when I proudly showed him my recovery strap this morning, a behemoth 33,000 lbs. rated strap. He asked me how I was going to use it. Well… I hadn’t figured that part out yet. He had laughed because he knew I didn’t have any D-rings or chains, and he knew the giant strap eyes wouldn’t loop through my truck’s tow hooks. What is a D-ring? Okay, more learning in order. So I spent a good portion of the morning today learning about my truck, hitch ratings, Grade 80 vs. 100 chain, etc., and spending time chatting with my cousin. I’ve now got a chain sling, web shackles, and recovery hitch receiver on order.

In short, this new lifestyle has entailed a lot of learning. The camper is working out great. I still need to replace the wobbly dinette table and replace some of the cabinet pistons, and a few other things. I need to gain more skills and get a few more pieces of gear.
Find
Reply
SheketEchad
aka VanDitz
****
Posts: 420
Threads: 9
Joined: Jan 2012
Reputation: 9
#28
09-16-2019, 06:47 AM
It is both a humbling and an exhilarating experience, to change lifestyles. Heck to do anything out of our normal comfort zones. Kudos to you on both your teachable attitude and your spirit of adventure.

I had no idea they'd let you empty a black tank in a restroom! Makes sense though Smile

Fair winds and following seas, as you carry on.

"Introverts are collectors of thoughts, and solitude is where the collection is curated and rearranged to make sense of the present and future."  Laurie Helgoe

sunflowersolacefarm.wordpress.com
Website Find
Reply
MG1912
Posting Freak
****
Posts: 165
Threads: 6
Joined: Jun 2019
Reputation: 9
#29
09-16-2019, 10:51 AM
Many thanks, SE.  I just read your initial post, the one where Bob says he started cheaprvliving because of you!  Very cool.  I appreciate your kind words.

Yes, the cassette is technically my rig's black tank, but it's pretty inoffensive looking.  Smile  You can wheel it around, and it just kind of looks like a weird suitcase or something.  The cool thing about it is that you can dump the cassette in public toilets (although apparently not in pit toilets or port-a-potties in the West, according to HDR).  It still can't be dumped on the ground, as it is raw toilet waste and chemicals.  However, by dumping the cassette in toilets and the gray water tank in nature (I am using only Dr. Bronner's biodegradable soap), I will never have to stop at an RV dump station.

(image belongs to coastalmotorhomes.co.nz)
[Image: cassette-c400-rh.jpg]
Find
Reply
SheketEchad
aka VanDitz
****
Posts: 420
Threads: 9
Joined: Jan 2012
Reputation: 9
#30
09-16-2019, 11:22 AM
(09-16-2019, 10:51 AM)MG1912 Wrote:  Many thanks, SE.  I just read your initial post, the one where Bob says he started cheaprvliving because of you!  Very cool.  I appreciate your kind words.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hmmm, I think you must have me confused with some other stellar person, because Bob and the forum were around a very long time before I ever showed up here, lol!  And I think it was his ex wife that started this path to freedom for him unbeknownst to him at the time. But thanks for associating me with great company Smile  (I had to go back and read my 7 year old first post to make sure I did not have an alternate universe going on somewhere!)

I burst into here in 2012 with all kinds of plans after my husband died,and I lost my job, had a rig lined up, and...well, then life dreams got derailed by actual life.  I've just stopped caring for a grandchild for 3.5 years and now am happily back playing with my dreams again.

That little thing looks very innocuous, no wonder they were accommodating. I'll be going the wonderful 5 gal compost route initially methinks.
(This post was last modified: 09-16-2019, 11:23 AM by SheketEchad.)

"Introverts are collectors of thoughts, and solitude is where the collection is curated and rearranged to make sense of the present and future."  Laurie Helgoe

sunflowersolacefarm.wordpress.com
Website Find
Reply
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »

Pages (17): « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 … 17 Next »
 


  • View a Printable Version
  • Subscribe to this thread
Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

About Our Community

We strive to maintain a safe space to ask questions, discuss relevant topics, and support each other. All are welcome, in a car, van or RV, including full-timers, part-timers, and those preparing for, or exploring the vandwelling lifestyle

Quick Links




Reach Us

Contact Us  Meet Our team

Powered By MyBB. Crafted by EreeCorp.
Linear Mode
Threaded Mode