Has anyone here tried temporary van/camper life?

[-GoldenHawk-]

Hey all! Just curious if anyone here has had the means to quit what you're doing and adventured on the road for an extended period of time to golf and do whatever you want. I'm hoping in the next few years I can set things aside and travel/golf/blog/possibly work remotely all over the US. 

[GHIN n Juice]

Ah, the Mark Burk approach to golf, lol.

[lefthack]

When the wife and I decided we were getting too old for tent camping, I bought a Frito Lay step van and built out (work in progress) an RV. It's more of a weekend warrior, but it has worked out nice.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pat5AFWXjJZRP9Ka8

 

I need to rebuild the front and rear suspension, then add the propane tank and water heater. Exhaust fans and countertop last, then she is fully functional.

Edited April 3, 2021 by lefthack

[scotee]

On 4/2/2021 at 5:11 PM, lefthack said:

When the wife and I decided we were getting too old for tent camping, I bought a Frito Lay step van and built out (work in progress) an RV. It's more of a weekend warrior, but it has worked out nice.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pat5AFWXjJZRP9Ka8

 

I need to rebuild the front and rear suspension, then add the propane tank and water heater. Exhaust fans and countertop last, then she is fully functional.

 

Nice project!  You will enjoy that.  My BIL is doing a similar build on a Ford ambulance van. He is taking his time and doing it right. That's a lot of work!   We retired and picked up a lightly used 2014 Leisure Travel Sprinter Cl B RV.  It is a very nice travel van but pretty tight for more than a week or two. Easy to drive and park but no slide outs. The tank capacity is pretty limited so we have rarely used the shower unless at full hook up.  I also wish it had more ground clearance. It is not good off road.  We did a 2 week Grand Circle tour of the Parks in Utah and Arizona and a week long tour of the Canadian Rockies along with some nice weekends in the Pacific Northwest. 

[scotee]

A guy could prolly live in this one:

 

https://news.yahoo.com/video/pro-golfers-enormous-2-story-184801839.html

[TiScape]

21 hours ago, scotee said:

A guy could prolly live in this one:

 

https://news.yahoo.com/video/pro-golfers-enormous-2-story-184801839.html

Wow. Surprised that set up isn’t talked about more! That’s ridiculous. 

[scotee]

It was featured I think in 2014 on an Elkington TV show called "The Rural Golfer" on the RFD network. He traveled around the country to various out of the way muni golf places. I thought it was entertaining.

 

 

[Dr.Zevia]

I started van life July 1st 2016 and haven't looked back since. That was the last time I paid a dime in rent, so far I figured I've saved at least $60k in rent, and that's on the low end. I live outside San Francisco, so the high rents made it an easy decision. I chose a Dodge Sprinter and built it up like a log cabin inside with knotty pine. With proper insulation it's very comfortable and warm. You can also buy a small propane heater, but I really don't use mine all that much, body heat and proper insulation does nicely.

 

The best advice I can give you is buy something you can stand up in, like a Sprinter. Try and stay in places that are cool at night so it's easier to sleep, a hot van is like an oven. Best place to park is near apartment complexes or grocery/ strip malls. Never park in front of someone's house. If you get a knock on the door from the cops, you don't have to answer, they can't do anything without a warrant. You're parked legally on the street.

[BIG STU]

We have thought long and hard about doing this. Since there is only the wife and I plus the little dog we adopted in December. But due to my accident last April I am not able to ride long distances at this time. We will see and my lawyers are arrainging a visit to another well known Doctor so I may get better. Before my accident I would have went the route lefthack did since I am a Qualified Heavy Duty Diesel mechanic. Only thing I would have done was a larger diesel school bus. But that is a moot point now since I am not physically able to do that type of work anymore.

 

Dr Zevia---- This day and time they may get a warrant forthwith due to stuff like what happened in Nashville earlier this year with the bomb in the camper/ van

[596]

2 years ago my wife and I bought a 27ft motorhome. We left home April 1st from Florida.  Took us 8 weeks to get to Seattle, WA.  We stayed at a few places with golf on site or near by.  We had no plan and just drove to where ever when we felt like it.  It was a real experience and we enjoyed it.  However, my right hip went bad and there was no way I we could drive another 8 weeks back home.  So we sold the RV in Seattle.  Shipped our stuff back home. Stayed in Victoria, BC for a week,  Took a 7 day cruise to Alaska.  Then flew home.  

[tiderider]

On 4/2/2021 at 7:11 PM, lefthack said:

When the wife and I decided we were getting too old for tent camping, I bought a Frito Lay step van and built out (work in progress) an RV. It's more of a weekend warrior, but it has worked out nice.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pat5AFWXjJZRP9Ka8

 

I need to rebuild the front and rear suspension, then add the propane tank and water heater. Exhaust fans and countertop last, then she is fully functional.

that thumb? ... ouch!

[lefthack]

20 minutes ago, tiderider said:

that thumb? ... ouch!

 

Yeah, that was a tough lesson. "I'll just trim the end real quick while I hold the piece in one hand and my carbide cutting wheel in the other. What could go wrong?" Oops.

[slocagolfer]

I just talked to an old friend who tried to live in his RV and travel around. He decided it wasn't for him and moved back to town. 

Another friend sold her home when she retired. She bought a travel trailer that she lives in now. She goes where she wants. Right now she is on a journey to visit every National Park before October. I love seeing her Facebook posts.

I don't think my wife and I could do that though sometimes getting out of Dodge, on the road, and not telling anyone where we are does sound appealing.

[lefthack]

I got my suspension all swapped out this weekend finally. What a HUGE pain in the a**, wow.

 

I'll get new tie rod ends when they do the alignment.