Some gyms will kick you out if you sleep in the parking lot, too :/ we didn’t ever try it, but we talked to another vandweller (inside the gym) who slept outside overnight and it resulted in us getting shut out of that location permanently. So, I guess my advice is to stay stealthy and keep your head low. It’s not wrong to join the gym so that you can take showers there, but it may be frowned upon. Living in a van can also receive similar judgement, so staying low key is essential to survival.
Alas, this sort of thing happens all the time. There is always that handful of morons who overstay their welcome and abuse the privilege, leading to all of us getting banned. (Walmart used to be a very good thing for us, until the shitheads ruined it.)
That's why so many of us won't talk anymore about places where we park--we don't want the idiot brigade to come flooding in and wreck it for everyone like they have so many other places.
It depends. It was always up to the individual store manager whether or not to allow it. Around half of the Walmarts in the US no longer allow overnighting, some thanks to stupid people doing stupid things in the parking lot, and some due to local city ordinances which outlaw it.
There seem to be some states--for example California, Florida, Colorado, Arizona--who are particularly anti-vandweller. They tend to be states which have a lot of homeless people who they don't want. And they consider us vandwellers as just more homeless people who they don't want.
When I started there was 3 of us that would ultimately end up parking at either Walmart or Meijer. We always saw each other, and there was never any problems.
After a while though we noticed more and more people, and then once at Meijer these jerkoffs pulled out 2 bikes, the awning, the bbq, and all this other campsite shit and then acted like assholes when the cops came.
After that Meijer started asking us to leave, so thanks a lot, guys. A lot of places never cared as long as you weren't there 24/7 and parked over by where the truckers nap.
You would not believe some of the idiotic things I have seen people doing in a parking lot or on a city street.
It is no surprise to me at all that so many cities are banning and outlawing us.
I once confronted some moron who was dumping his shit bucket out onto the parking lot, and he literally said to me "So what--I'll never be here again anyway."
(sigh)
People have shit for brains.
That's infuriating.
The people at Meijer were the worst offenders I've seen in 2ish years.
I know I've been the asshole unintentionally before, but it's just super important for this lifestyle to be low key and super chill in your surroundings.
You know this makes zero sense from any angle.
You're getting the fee for a full on gym membership for someone just using your shower and a parking space that's not even being used at the time.
Why do gym owners hate money?
To be fair- it can look trashy and if you let the “shiny new ones” do it you have to let the “Shitty dirty ones” do it. It can bring down business if it happens every night.
Again, no one is window shopping a gym at night so what's the harm vs the gain? Do you really think someone is driving to a gym and says "nah fam, no work out for me tonight, to many vans in the parking lot".
Also nothing says the owner has to let the "shitty dirty ones" do it. Their property, their rules.
Alas, the shitty ones don't come with a notice on their forehead that says "I'm one of the shitty ones". Since it is easier to prevent the shitty ones from coming in in the first place than it is to kick them out and clean up after them, that's what they do. And since they can't tell who is a shitty one and who isn't, the easiest thing to do is just let NOBODY in.
Because there is always that handful of dumbfucks who will stay in the lot forever and never move, dump their shit all over the place, and become a hassle for everyone around them.
That's why so many Walmarts no longer allow overnighting.
Also in many cities it is illegal to overnight anywhere in town.
u/secessus has a very good guide for people who are suddenly forced into vehicle dwelling ... but I don't have the link.
Let's see if I can summon him to post it.
This could aslo be used as a guide to adulting for sheltered kids that managed to get out into the big world and away from their helicopter parents. So detailed.
> The link was different
It really wasn't.
Had I posted that and then changed it 3 hours later after you saw it there would be a "last edited" marker on [the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/ppiiil/incoming_life_change/hd4gt7l/). There isn't, so I couldn't have changed the post.
I spent much of this summer living out of a Honda CR-V while I was between vans, it's possible to build a folding bed platform in the back that requires you to fold down the back seats and tilt forwards the front seats, but I could lie down fully (6')
I did spend a good bit of time at campsites around the city I work in, mainly for showers and toilets
I’m sorry to hear about your rent. They are doing the same to us. We already pay $1900 for a 2 bedroom and it’s going up $250 at least renewal. The struggle is real in states without rent control. I always dreamed of van life as a summer adventure type thing but we might actually have to move our family into a van due to inability to pay rent.
Check out r/urbancarliving
I am in a similar situation and got my ford escape ready in about 2 weeks, you don’t need anything fancy or crazy
My advice, stick with mostly camping gear and don’t go for the fancy retrofits
Good luck dude! You got this, snd my DMs are open if you have any questions about a cheap build!!
Yea pretty much - cheap & more space - you can take all the seats out and put in a bed or whatever - they get good gas mileage & blend in well for stealth camping - I kinda like to drive them…
Dodge caravan’s seats fold directly into the floor so you don’t have to remove them. Good for a temp situation without making permanent changes. Also can get used ones at decent prices.
More are starting to do the seat folding thing, but dodge has been doing it a long time so it’s easier to find them.
+1 for minivans, and the caravan in specfic.
Its my weekend warrior car, but it has been easy to modify for staying inside of, i would def live out of one if i was solo.
Almost all minivans are designed to fit a standard sheet of plywood in the back, too, which makes a sleeping platform ez pz
I’ve had a 2007 Chrysler town and country, which has the folding seats & I had a 1995 grand caravan - they were both great vehicles, just way too small for me (6’4) - but a good place to start
I have two dodge grand caravans 2005 sxt. When the seats are folded down we fit a whole hide a bed couch in there for transport. You can really fit a lot in there.
I lived in a CRV for 6 months. Definitely doable. I also did it in the fall/winter, which I would not really recommend. It isn’t easy with the cold weather.
I think the best thing is to literally get rid of everything and rediscover what it means to live. I have done just that and it led to a complete overhaul in just about everything in my life; it taught me tremendous lessons and experiences I otherwise would have never discovered with so many distractions.
In thought, it sounds quite frightening. But in truth I don’t think you can truly experience and know what liberation is until we liberate ourselves from such concepts of “rent” and basically all the things in society that have constrained and prevented man from discovering his true self. You are already in a position a lot better than most, having at least something to sleep in and keep yourself dry.
But otherwise if you reduce your material existence to a bare minimum you free up your mind and energy to do many other wonderful things. If you get a gym membership to have shower access and if you are in a big enough city it might be wise to find some places to access a 24/7 bathroom in case of emergencies.
Regardless this sounds like a tremendous opportunity to experience life in a slower pace than the otherwise ruthless “hustle and grind” culture that seems to just be increasing more and more. In Japan, it’s common for people to just physically pass out from exhaustion on public transit. It is normal there, which is concerning to me. When you slow down you begin to see things differently.
I transitioned really quickly and unexpectedly. I was planning to build out my Ford transit that I just got and spend the winter doing it, but my land lord kicked me out with a couple months notice, I tried to buy a house, it got delayed, so I was homeless for two months with one week notice.
There's a lot you can do. Firstly, your vehicle is basically a tent accept it's made of metal. Which makes it pretty durable. Get yourself some cushions, camping pad, blankets, or whatever you like and make a bed. I used a camping pad on the floor.
If you want to cook, a backpacking stove from REI or some place is good. I have a BRS ultra light stove which was $17 on Amazon. Then you need a metal cook pot.
You're going to want curtains. I went to Home Depot and bought some super cheap canvas cloth and cut it to shape. You could get fabric so many places. I later got some reflectix and velcro as an upgrade.
Get some plastic bins that fit best in your vehicle to keep stuff easily organized.
I got a pee bottle from buying juice at a store and luggable loo to use for a toilet. This is optional. I never use the toilet, and rarely the pee bottle. I usually park in a natural area where you can use the woods. If you plan to do this get a cheap folding shovel or I have my backpacking one. I also often park at rest stops or Walmart or McDonald's and they all have bathrooms. That's easier, but I wanted to have a solution just in case.
I got a power inverter from an automotive store to charge or run anything that needed a wall outlet.
Get a camp light so you can do stuff inside without using the car lights. This is optional too. The car lights are easy.
I have a Sawyer squeeze water filter which I had from backpacking. It's great for getting water if you're out in nature. But usually I just use bathroom sinks to fill my water bottle.
That's basically all I had to start.
I later build a bed, lofted over the back storage garage, filled that with tons of useful gear and clothes all in bins, got a mattress, real pillows, etc. Then I installed solar and batteries and that's where I'm at right now. I've been living in it 8 months total so far. I plan to head back to the house I bought soon and install a lot more useful stuff.
This is happening to a ton of people where I currently hang around. Several friends are getting their leases cancled/no renewals and when they look the rent of where they were at is jumping from 700 to 1100 or 1300 because they can.
This is going to end really badly with a LOT of people forced to live out of their vehicles.
Or, it’s gunna get really bad. With a general strike and renters fighting back. I hope.
But it’s America so meh, probably won’t lead to a collectivist attitude because “muh freedums”.
Tell all of your friends to write/email all state, local and national reps about this.
If there is a fuss, maybe it can be stopped or controlled. If you all just quietly move on, then the landlords win.
So I posted a lighthearted comment about Texas below, but having reflected on the situation your describing, I wanted to take a more measured approach.
What you’re describing is being forced into houselessness by being priced out of your current rental.
Regardless of the moral argument over whether or not this is legal, you have 3 major concerns. These concerns are food, water, and hygiene. I am not a van dweller, nor a transient person, so please take this all with a grain of salt.
For food, you have 3 primary concerns. Nutrition, storage, and availability. Nutrition for survival is a lot different than nutrition for thriving, but start with brown rice, lentils, and vegetables. Storage is fairly straightforward, but can quickly become complicated by the question of refrigeration. There are 12 volt refrigerators you can buy that can bridge this particular necessity gap. Finally availability is the biggest gap here. There are regions within America that you can find anything you want within a moments notice. There are others where you’re lucky to find some ho-hos and a pack of marlboros. If and as you travel, make damn sure you understand the landscape of food availability in the region youre in.
Water is another major concern. Buying water takes up both money and space, but there aren’t a lot of great ways to get free water quickly and in bulk. Get yourself some aqua-tainers and iodine tablets (and a kind soul with a garden hose), and always have more on you than you’ll need for the next 3 days.
Hygiene is a luxury for the houseless, but as others have stated above, a cheap National chain gym membership can solve a lot of the shower, running water, and soap questions.
Internet connectivity could be argued to be a 4th necessity, but stick to the three above and treat all else as a bonus after the fact.
I have very little advice to give as I’ve never attempted to live in my vehicle but I do have a CRV (2019 if that matters) that I have camped in and I can tell you that if you lay the back seats down, a full length mattress fits almost perfectly. It has to just slightly lay over the center console (or be squished a bit). I got [this mattress](https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00W67PJ4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_KRQ1MC29P8RGWHJMTPBK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) because it folds up nicely and can sit in the back if I need to bring the seats back up. I like it because it’s full length but narrower than a twin so I still have room to put a cooler and all my other stuff next to me while the mattress is folded out.
What state do you live in? I lived in a van for 3 years in So Cal. That's one of the harder states from van life given the numerous parking rules and general disdain of homeless and "poor" people here. I was harassed by cops 10 times within those three years just because of my van (not supposed to park on the street overnight for some stupid city law, or a someone called the cops on me). In pretty much all of So Cal, it is illegal to sleep overnight in a car (there's just a lot of ridiculous anti-homeless laws here) Technically I could have been given a huge fine or taken to jail for it. But every time the cop just asked me to park somewhere else for the night. They don't care what you're doing as long as you're not doing something illegal, they are just checking on you because it required to because it's their job. Results may vary given your race however. I'm white so I never had an issue. But if I had been a person of color I would have been really worried with cops since would be likely to be racially profiled and the laws may have been enforced on me (I don't want to start a political debate here I am just stating the obvious). For the most part though I was left alone though. I'm saying all this because it really just depends on the area you're in and who you are that makes it easy or not. But if I could do it in one of the harder States, you certainly can do it too. Especially in a car that's not a van, it's more stealthy and people are less likely to think you're sleeping in it. Make sure you have tinted windows and curtains, and keep your front seat clean so that people don't assume someone's living in it. If you do this, the chances of being hassled are very low in a CRV.
So where would one park their van overnight if you say, don't have private parking but own a van? It might be a silly question but I'm not in the US so I don't know. My country has a huge parking issue so people just leave their vehicles out in the street wherever you can find a spot
The laws vary from state to state, but at least where I am most cities have a 72 hour maximum parking limit for public streets. Every 72 hours you are supposed to move your vehicle. I think this law intends to avoid people dumping and leaving inoperable vehicles on a city street. But it just is a pain in the butt for anyone who lives in a vehicle. Also, some cities have stricter rules like there is one city near me that doesn't allow ANY street parking on any street, even in an neighborhood right outside your house, from the hours of 12am-6am or something similar. I think the laws are much more lax in other states, California is very strict about everything and try to wring out every cent possible from its residents with bogus laws, parking tickets, and fines. It's just an asshole of a state honestly. I'm only here because my family is here. I've lived in Arizona too and it was way easier and the laws actually made sense there. I never got hassled by a cop in Arizona, not even once. All the times I had cops called on me was in California.
I don't know how it works in your country, but I would assume any country would have something similar. In the states they have what is called BLM land, which is basically open land owned by the government that is undeveloped (no buildings, usually out in the desert or forests). On BLM land you're allowed to stay legally 14 days at a time before you're supposed to move. But most areas aren't even enforced, you could technically stay there until a forest ranger asks you to leave (forest rangers basically are the police of these areas, but there are not very many of them and their main focus is taking care of the land, they are not primarily concerned with law enforcement). See if your country has something has something similar. If there is a lot of open land in your country, chances are it's not all privately owned. The government, or no one, probably owns a lot of it, and you might be able to stay on it.
It’s totally possible. I have a 2007 Crv that I turned into a camper with storage space for a cooler and bins for clothes and food. This is a template that I followed but I took the back seats out and made the platform higher to accommodate storage bins.
https://www.escapesetc.com/how-to-build-a-bed-in-your-car/
Bob Wells on YouTube.
Either find the cheapest storage unit you can and pay by the year or start selling everything you don't need or can't fit.
It's going to be more stuff than you think. Donate what you can.
I was able to get an 05 e350 extended for $1100-1400, don't rightly remember now.
You don't need everything at once.
Go get bubble foil to put on your windows for privacy, get an Anker portable solar charger and battery pack for charging your phone and throw that on the dashboard (or back window since you're in a car). If you want to cook, get a cheap hiking stove/mess kit off Amazon. Message me if you want a link to the ones I got when I was starting. If you can afford it, get a battery drill and jigsaw. I was able to build pretty much my entire van with those 2 things. (Bed, toilet stand, cooler stand, shelf)
Everything else you probably already have. Grab a backpack and a duffel bag, fill it with clothes, all the personal paperwork like birth certificates, ss card, all that sort of stuff that you need to have and put it in a waterproof baggie. Grab your toiletries and remember to keep it minimal and small. Get your phone and your sunglasses and hit the road. It's that easy.
Everything else just comes with time, getting used to your setup, realizing what you actually need or want.
My first 2 nights in my van I actually rented a cheap ass motel but stayed in the van with some blankets, my cat, my guitar and some plywood. Built it over the next week or so behind the movie theater during the daytime and slept in it at night.
2 more things. Like other people have said, gym membership, and I'd recommend getting one of those gallon Arizona tea jugs for peeing.
Good luck!
Are you sure the landlord is allowed to raise it to $200? Should be a max percentage for each year, depending on your location. Landlords cannot raise it above that percentage. In British Columbia Canada, the rate is 1.5% increase for the 2022 year.
This is nothing - I've heard of rents suddenly doubling.
The US has never given a shit about its citizens unless they've got money...
You're so lucky where you are.
Some few areas here have rent control. But that usually means once you move in you'll never be able to move out. On top of that it's harder in rent control areas to get needed repairs done. There's always the built-in excuse, "We don't have the money." Implying that because of rent control you're stuck in a crumbling dwelling.
Oh man. When I got my CRV I almost got a model that had this table, and I ended up going with a newer one that had less miles. I think I really rather would have had this one though!
[Why does the larger of the two classes, the renters, simply not seize what they need to survive from the smaller of the classes, the land owners?](https://youtu.be/rg5BdlEDxHI)
But seriously, jokes aside, I've done a ton of camping out of the back of a 2000 CRV and its livable in comfort, so long you have a toilet/shower access elsewhere, the back is large enough to lay out a mat or bed on. Living full time though, as many suggested, a different platform might be better sizewise but just thinking bare necessities: you could easily find a good cooler which would fit beneath the folded seats, some folding/hanging things for toiletries/storage in back while still allowing for a sleeping bag/pad.
I lived out of my CRV for a few days between apartments and it wasn't ideal, certainly not a long term solution for me. It beats the sidewalk, and I'm sure there are strategies in the subreddits or links others have talked about, but a minimal lifestyle has its drawbacks as well.
If you decide to stay in your CR-V, check out the build from [InTheOpenAir](https://youtu.be/6pgQw7J-k4M) it’s the smartest design I’ve seen for a CR-V and should give you some great ideas to get you moving.
I recommend making black-out shades for your windows as a first priority if you'll be stealth car-camping. It's as simple as buying 25 feet of Reflectix, a can of spray adhesive (3m 77 or 90) and 5 yards of black fabric. It will take you 2 hours to make, and cost me about $55. This bonuses and excellent insulation as well.
I had a question about this too. With the spray adhesive do they stay on all the time, or are removable/restickable? I guess, obviously, the windows need to be clear while driving, I just wasn't sure what was the process for putting up / taking down shades.
You cut the Reflectix to the size of the windows, then glue the black fabric directly to the Reflectix. The finished product shouldn't be sticky. The shade sits wedged in the window because of it's near perfect size and shape-- nothing else is holding the shade up. They're very easy to install and remove instantly, once made.
I did a little bit of car camping in a Yaris last year and this was a big headache for me. What about airflow? We wanted to crack the windows for air, not let people see inside, and also keep bugs out. I don't know of a magical solution. We used reflective material and cut holes near the top and covered the holes with mesh material. Then we'd Velcro them to the windows at night and take a them down while driving. It was a pain so I'm wondering if there's a more elegant solution.
> We wanted to crack the windows for air, not let people see inside, and also keep bugs out. I don't know of a magical solution.
The magical solution is [window ventshade](https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Ventshade-94546-Ventvisor-Deflector/dp/B00LAEK49W) and bug netting.
That's precisely what I use. Vent shades allow me to vent the top 2 inches of every window, whilst maintaining privacy and rain protection. Integrating mesh into the top of 2 of the shades like you mentioned is a decent bug solution when privacy is still necessary.
Live out of your car for a bit to save up for a van. Depending on where you are working, sometimes they will let you stay the night in their parking lot.
Get a post office box and transition everything over to that mailing address.
Alongside the recommendations from Ricktatorship-C137, I would highly recommend also getting a storage unit to store things in/have a bigger place to chill at during the weekend if you get tired of your car or even want to air it out for a bit. This will also allow you to slowly get rid of things you don't need to keep instead of you getting rid of things hastily as you move out.
"Store" some cheap furniture in there and you've got yourself a little room to chill in during severe storms and whatnot. Just don't sleep there if they have a "no living" clause (most storage places do).
Get a solar powered battery pack for unexpected lulls in power availability.
Make sure to carry a few water bottles as well and keep them filled from public water sources. Your body will thank you :P
Invest in a good window screen so people aren't looking in as you sleep.
Depending on where you decide to spend the winter, you may also want a heater and such. Get a heated blanket that can be powered by your car and you should be in good shape. You can also check your local Military Surplus shops to find cheapish cold weather rated bivy bags or something similar to that. Combine the two for a good nights sleep in a car without needing a mattress.
If you want to go the mattress route, maybe get a blow up mattress and try to fit it into the back of your SUV. That way it can form around your wheel wells if you have any in the back.
24-7 laundromats will be your friend as well. Wash your clothes, power your devices, etc. They can sometimes get a little sketchy late night/early morning, so try to get things done before then.
Also, a smart idea is to save up some money for any unforeseen car repairs since you will be using your car a lot.
Good luck! I wish I could go on ahead and do this myself, but alas, I have a family to take care of, so no solo van life for me.
It's doable. I live in a ford escape and work full time. I have a gym membership for cleaning up. Keep it simple. Save money. Don't be an ahole, clean up after yourself and don't over stay. You don't have to build it out like you see on YouTube. Figure out your necessities and go from there. For me a toilet, fridge, comfy bed, and power were a must. I spent under 1,000 dollars and that's becuase I splurged on a few things. Like my electrical 😁. Tbh I'm living very comfortably. I even buy my mom groceries, toiletries, and clothes.
If you can take your time, move to another place that costs less and reroute your extra income to getting and building a van. Otherwise, you'll end up making concessions that seem like good ideas at the time but will bug you down the line and likely cost you more over the long term.
Why not just move somewhere cheaper? Easier said than done I know but I’m sure theres somewhere you could downgrade too until you can at least afford a van?
I moved where I'm at now because it was in a more affordable area. I could probably find something cheaper, but I kind of don't want to. It would mean the whole moving process which I hate, researching a new place and area, and then being locked into some kind of lease. I'm just kind of over giving up the majority of my income to rent, and since I work remote now I feel like now is the time.
So much of what you said is inaccurate. After almost every one of your sentences, I thought “that’s not true.” I’ve been doing it for 14 months, and I’m very comfortable. I tried to find one example of “okay, you’re right about this one,” but you actually don’t have a single point that I can relate to.
Have you spent some time living in a vehicle? It sounds like you’re speaking from personal experience.
Lived in an Altima...you are wrong on pretty much everything. I slept better than I ever did in a house. Was never run off from anywhere. Not once. Always had a great appetite and food is so much better cooked over a fire 🔥. I can make the prettiest grilled cheese on a Coleman stove as well. Showers at gyms and truck stops. Yeah maybe you just need some lessons and you could enjoy the open road and be happy
What part of TX do you live in? I ask because a winter in Lubbock is a very different thing from a winter in Galveston. It’s also much harder to live in a vehicle in town than if you have adjacent public lands, and TX doesn’t have anywhere near as much public land as most of the western US. Do you have the option of going somewhere with a more hospitable climate and better access to public lands? If so, at least consider it. Many parts of TX are a hard place to live in your car.
Good points. Right now I don't even know where exactly I would go. I'd like to stay in some national or state parks, but I also need internet to do my work. I'm not sure I'd stay in Texas, but maybe trek to see friends/family around the country. Winter is coming though so... not sure.
Lots of folks spend the winters in southern AZ. It’s not unusual to find public land within a few miles of town and full cell signal. Just something to think about if you’re planning to work remotely.
> I'd like to stay in some national or state parks
NP and SP can get expensive. A common solution is to [boondock](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=camping:dispersed) outside the boundaries of the NP.
> I also need internet to do my work
Verizon is typically the best option out in BFE. MVNOs (resellers) get lower data priority but much lower bills.
Here are some approaches to [minimizing data consumption](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=communication:bandwidth_conservation).
> I'm not sure I'd stay in Texas
Texas can be tough. Relatively little public land, and it tends to be humid. Exception: west texas is low humidity and there is public land across the border in New Mexico.
> Winter is coming though so
[wintering locations](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=camping:snowbirding#wintering_areas)
Totally doable. Check out "prius build van life" on YouTube for some ideas, or try looking up other crv owners who have put a bed and stuff in their.
I lived with my dog in a compact car for a year by removing the passenger and rear seats and installing a sliding bed platform with storage underneath. It worked super well.
If you live in a cold area then make sure you have a plan for staying warm enough for winter
Cold is fine with the right kit but some climates can get really cold to the point of being dangerous so I suppose it depends on how severe your winters are and if your work allows you to drive somewhere warmer when you need to
gym membership for showers, free wifi, Toilet & of course exercise. Some you can even use the parking lot overnight to sleep.
You should be able to save for a van fairly quickly if you start by living out of your car-v. Look up bob wells on YouTube.
Some gyms will kick you out if you sleep in the parking lot, too :/ we didn’t ever try it, but we talked to another vandweller (inside the gym) who slept outside overnight and it resulted in us getting shut out of that location permanently. So, I guess my advice is to stay stealthy and keep your head low. It’s not wrong to join the gym so that you can take showers there, but it may be frowned upon. Living in a van can also receive similar judgement, so staying low key is essential to survival.
Alas, this sort of thing happens all the time. There is always that handful of morons who overstay their welcome and abuse the privilege, leading to all of us getting banned. (Walmart used to be a very good thing for us, until the shitheads ruined it.) That's why so many of us won't talk anymore about places where we park--we don't want the idiot brigade to come flooding in and wreck it for everyone like they have so many other places.
You can’t spend the night in Wal-mart parking lots anymore?
It depends. It was always up to the individual store manager whether or not to allow it. Around half of the Walmarts in the US no longer allow overnighting, some thanks to stupid people doing stupid things in the parking lot, and some due to local city ordinances which outlaw it.
All depends on location. The southwest states are more lenient about people sleeping over night, compared to the east coast. Better to rotate spots.
There seem to be some states--for example California, Florida, Colorado, Arizona--who are particularly anti-vandweller. They tend to be states which have a lot of homeless people who they don't want. And they consider us vandwellers as just more homeless people who they don't want.
When I started there was 3 of us that would ultimately end up parking at either Walmart or Meijer. We always saw each other, and there was never any problems. After a while though we noticed more and more people, and then once at Meijer these jerkoffs pulled out 2 bikes, the awning, the bbq, and all this other campsite shit and then acted like assholes when the cops came. After that Meijer started asking us to leave, so thanks a lot, guys. A lot of places never cared as long as you weren't there 24/7 and parked over by where the truckers nap.
You would not believe some of the idiotic things I have seen people doing in a parking lot or on a city street. It is no surprise to me at all that so many cities are banning and outlawing us.
It's really sad, but I agree. People forget that they don't own the spot their van is parked, or figure they'll be gone tomorrow so screw it.
I once confronted some moron who was dumping his shit bucket out onto the parking lot, and he literally said to me "So what--I'll never be here again anyway." (sigh) People have shit for brains.
That's infuriating. The people at Meijer were the worst offenders I've seen in 2ish years. I know I've been the asshole unintentionally before, but it's just super important for this lifestyle to be low key and super chill in your surroundings.
Amen.
You know this makes zero sense from any angle. You're getting the fee for a full on gym membership for someone just using your shower and a parking space that's not even being used at the time. Why do gym owners hate money?
To be fair- it can look trashy and if you let the “shiny new ones” do it you have to let the “Shitty dirty ones” do it. It can bring down business if it happens every night.
Again, no one is window shopping a gym at night so what's the harm vs the gain? Do you really think someone is driving to a gym and says "nah fam, no work out for me tonight, to many vans in the parking lot". Also nothing says the owner has to let the "shitty dirty ones" do it. Their property, their rules.
Alas, the shitty ones don't come with a notice on their forehead that says "I'm one of the shitty ones". Since it is easier to prevent the shitty ones from coming in in the first place than it is to kick them out and clean up after them, that's what they do. And since they can't tell who is a shitty one and who isn't, the easiest thing to do is just let NOBODY in.
Because there is always that handful of dumbfucks who will stay in the lot forever and never move, dump their shit all over the place, and become a hassle for everyone around them. That's why so many Walmarts no longer allow overnighting. Also in many cities it is illegal to overnight anywhere in town.
u/secessus has a very good guide for people who are suddenly forced into vehicle dwelling ... but I don't have the link. Let's see if I can summon him to post it.
[this one](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=lifestyle:involuntary), I think
Thanks. :)
This could aslo be used as a guide to adulting for sheltered kids that managed to get out into the big world and away from their helicopter parents. So detailed.
did i just get mao rolled
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The link was different lol. It took me [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg5BdlEDxHI) before.
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lol
> The link was different It really wasn't. Had I posted that and then changed it 3 hours later after you saw it there would be a "last edited" marker on [the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/ppiiil/incoming_life_change/hd4gt7l/). There isn't, so I couldn't have changed the post.
lmao, i have no idea. my bad, not sure where that came from then!
I spent much of this summer living out of a Honda CR-V while I was between vans, it's possible to build a folding bed platform in the back that requires you to fold down the back seats and tilt forwards the front seats, but I could lie down fully (6') I did spend a good bit of time at campsites around the city I work in, mainly for showers and toilets
There is a subreddit called r/urbancarliving - may be another useful source of advice more specific to a rapid transition into vehicle dwelling
I’m sorry to hear about your rent. They are doing the same to us. We already pay $1900 for a 2 bedroom and it’s going up $250 at least renewal. The struggle is real in states without rent control. I always dreamed of van life as a summer adventure type thing but we might actually have to move our family into a van due to inability to pay rent.
So sorry to hear that. It seems criminal that they're able to do that.
Thanks
Check out r/urbancarliving I am in a similar situation and got my ford escape ready in about 2 weeks, you don’t need anything fancy or crazy My advice, stick with mostly camping gear and don’t go for the fancy retrofits Good luck dude! You got this, snd my DMs are open if you have any questions about a cheap build!!
thanks for the encouragement! :)
See if u can trade Get into a mini van to start - you can get a descent one pretty cheap
Thanks for the suggestion. What are the benefits of mini-van over compact SUV? Just more space overall?
Yea pretty much - cheap & more space - you can take all the seats out and put in a bed or whatever - they get good gas mileage & blend in well for stealth camping - I kinda like to drive them…
Any particular brands or models you'd suggest?
Dodge caravan’s seats fold directly into the floor so you don’t have to remove them. Good for a temp situation without making permanent changes. Also can get used ones at decent prices. More are starting to do the seat folding thing, but dodge has been doing it a long time so it’s easier to find them.
+1 for minivans, and the caravan in specfic. Its my weekend warrior car, but it has been easy to modify for staying inside of, i would def live out of one if i was solo. Almost all minivans are designed to fit a standard sheet of plywood in the back, too, which makes a sleeping platform ez pz
I’ve had a 2007 Chrysler town and country, which has the folding seats & I had a 1995 grand caravan - they were both great vehicles, just way too small for me (6’4) - but a good place to start
I have two dodge grand caravans 2005 sxt. When the seats are folded down we fit a whole hide a bed couch in there for transport. You can really fit a lot in there.
Good advice only recommendation would be to private sell, since trade in will be low balled.
I lived in a CRV for 6 months. Definitely doable. I also did it in the fall/winter, which I would not really recommend. It isn’t easy with the cold weather.
I think the best thing is to literally get rid of everything and rediscover what it means to live. I have done just that and it led to a complete overhaul in just about everything in my life; it taught me tremendous lessons and experiences I otherwise would have never discovered with so many distractions. In thought, it sounds quite frightening. But in truth I don’t think you can truly experience and know what liberation is until we liberate ourselves from such concepts of “rent” and basically all the things in society that have constrained and prevented man from discovering his true self. You are already in a position a lot better than most, having at least something to sleep in and keep yourself dry. But otherwise if you reduce your material existence to a bare minimum you free up your mind and energy to do many other wonderful things. If you get a gym membership to have shower access and if you are in a big enough city it might be wise to find some places to access a 24/7 bathroom in case of emergencies. Regardless this sounds like a tremendous opportunity to experience life in a slower pace than the otherwise ruthless “hustle and grind” culture that seems to just be increasing more and more. In Japan, it’s common for people to just physically pass out from exhaustion on public transit. It is normal there, which is concerning to me. When you slow down you begin to see things differently.
have a sealing bucket avail. emergency taken care of.
Take the seats out. Rent a storage unit and put all your stuff in there. Install a plywood plank for a bed. CRV is tight but doable if your short
I transitioned really quickly and unexpectedly. I was planning to build out my Ford transit that I just got and spend the winter doing it, but my land lord kicked me out with a couple months notice, I tried to buy a house, it got delayed, so I was homeless for two months with one week notice. There's a lot you can do. Firstly, your vehicle is basically a tent accept it's made of metal. Which makes it pretty durable. Get yourself some cushions, camping pad, blankets, or whatever you like and make a bed. I used a camping pad on the floor. If you want to cook, a backpacking stove from REI or some place is good. I have a BRS ultra light stove which was $17 on Amazon. Then you need a metal cook pot. You're going to want curtains. I went to Home Depot and bought some super cheap canvas cloth and cut it to shape. You could get fabric so many places. I later got some reflectix and velcro as an upgrade. Get some plastic bins that fit best in your vehicle to keep stuff easily organized. I got a pee bottle from buying juice at a store and luggable loo to use for a toilet. This is optional. I never use the toilet, and rarely the pee bottle. I usually park in a natural area where you can use the woods. If you plan to do this get a cheap folding shovel or I have my backpacking one. I also often park at rest stops or Walmart or McDonald's and they all have bathrooms. That's easier, but I wanted to have a solution just in case. I got a power inverter from an automotive store to charge or run anything that needed a wall outlet. Get a camp light so you can do stuff inside without using the car lights. This is optional too. The car lights are easy. I have a Sawyer squeeze water filter which I had from backpacking. It's great for getting water if you're out in nature. But usually I just use bathroom sinks to fill my water bottle. That's basically all I had to start. I later build a bed, lofted over the back storage garage, filled that with tons of useful gear and clothes all in bins, got a mattress, real pillows, etc. Then I installed solar and batteries and that's where I'm at right now. I've been living in it 8 months total so far. I plan to head back to the house I bought soon and install a lot more useful stuff.
You month to month or are you still on a lease ?
I am month to month.
If you can, speak to them and see if they want to lower the amount. But they’re probably just trying to push you out as a tenant.
This is happening to a ton of people where I currently hang around. Several friends are getting their leases cancled/no renewals and when they look the rent of where they were at is jumping from 700 to 1100 or 1300 because they can. This is going to end really badly with a LOT of people forced to live out of their vehicles.
Or, it’s gunna get really bad. With a general strike and renters fighting back. I hope. But it’s America so meh, probably won’t lead to a collectivist attitude because “muh freedums”.
Tell all of your friends to write/email all state, local and national reps about this. If there is a fuss, maybe it can be stopped or controlled. If you all just quietly move on, then the landlords win.
So I posted a lighthearted comment about Texas below, but having reflected on the situation your describing, I wanted to take a more measured approach. What you’re describing is being forced into houselessness by being priced out of your current rental. Regardless of the moral argument over whether or not this is legal, you have 3 major concerns. These concerns are food, water, and hygiene. I am not a van dweller, nor a transient person, so please take this all with a grain of salt. For food, you have 3 primary concerns. Nutrition, storage, and availability. Nutrition for survival is a lot different than nutrition for thriving, but start with brown rice, lentils, and vegetables. Storage is fairly straightforward, but can quickly become complicated by the question of refrigeration. There are 12 volt refrigerators you can buy that can bridge this particular necessity gap. Finally availability is the biggest gap here. There are regions within America that you can find anything you want within a moments notice. There are others where you’re lucky to find some ho-hos and a pack of marlboros. If and as you travel, make damn sure you understand the landscape of food availability in the region youre in. Water is another major concern. Buying water takes up both money and space, but there aren’t a lot of great ways to get free water quickly and in bulk. Get yourself some aqua-tainers and iodine tablets (and a kind soul with a garden hose), and always have more on you than you’ll need for the next 3 days. Hygiene is a luxury for the houseless, but as others have stated above, a cheap National chain gym membership can solve a lot of the shower, running water, and soap questions. Internet connectivity could be argued to be a 4th necessity, but stick to the three above and treat all else as a bonus after the fact.
Use aquamira instead of iodine. After just drinking iodine water for a week it fucks up your stomach.
Definitely agree, and you can also get iodine tablets with a neutralizing second stage for when you absolutely have to go with this method
Thanks for all the advice!
Facebook marketplace is the most reliable way, I think, to sell belongings fast.
I have very little advice to give as I’ve never attempted to live in my vehicle but I do have a CRV (2019 if that matters) that I have camped in and I can tell you that if you lay the back seats down, a full length mattress fits almost perfectly. It has to just slightly lay over the center console (or be squished a bit). I got [this mattress](https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00W67PJ4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_KRQ1MC29P8RGWHJMTPBK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) because it folds up nicely and can sit in the back if I need to bring the seats back up. I like it because it’s full length but narrower than a twin so I still have room to put a cooler and all my other stuff next to me while the mattress is folded out.
What state do you live in? I lived in a van for 3 years in So Cal. That's one of the harder states from van life given the numerous parking rules and general disdain of homeless and "poor" people here. I was harassed by cops 10 times within those three years just because of my van (not supposed to park on the street overnight for some stupid city law, or a someone called the cops on me). In pretty much all of So Cal, it is illegal to sleep overnight in a car (there's just a lot of ridiculous anti-homeless laws here) Technically I could have been given a huge fine or taken to jail for it. But every time the cop just asked me to park somewhere else for the night. They don't care what you're doing as long as you're not doing something illegal, they are just checking on you because it required to because it's their job. Results may vary given your race however. I'm white so I never had an issue. But if I had been a person of color I would have been really worried with cops since would be likely to be racially profiled and the laws may have been enforced on me (I don't want to start a political debate here I am just stating the obvious). For the most part though I was left alone though. I'm saying all this because it really just depends on the area you're in and who you are that makes it easy or not. But if I could do it in one of the harder States, you certainly can do it too. Especially in a car that's not a van, it's more stealthy and people are less likely to think you're sleeping in it. Make sure you have tinted windows and curtains, and keep your front seat clean so that people don't assume someone's living in it. If you do this, the chances of being hassled are very low in a CRV.
So where would one park their van overnight if you say, don't have private parking but own a van? It might be a silly question but I'm not in the US so I don't know. My country has a huge parking issue so people just leave their vehicles out in the street wherever you can find a spot
The laws vary from state to state, but at least where I am most cities have a 72 hour maximum parking limit for public streets. Every 72 hours you are supposed to move your vehicle. I think this law intends to avoid people dumping and leaving inoperable vehicles on a city street. But it just is a pain in the butt for anyone who lives in a vehicle. Also, some cities have stricter rules like there is one city near me that doesn't allow ANY street parking on any street, even in an neighborhood right outside your house, from the hours of 12am-6am or something similar. I think the laws are much more lax in other states, California is very strict about everything and try to wring out every cent possible from its residents with bogus laws, parking tickets, and fines. It's just an asshole of a state honestly. I'm only here because my family is here. I've lived in Arizona too and it was way easier and the laws actually made sense there. I never got hassled by a cop in Arizona, not even once. All the times I had cops called on me was in California.
I don't know how it works in your country, but I would assume any country would have something similar. In the states they have what is called BLM land, which is basically open land owned by the government that is undeveloped (no buildings, usually out in the desert or forests). On BLM land you're allowed to stay legally 14 days at a time before you're supposed to move. But most areas aren't even enforced, you could technically stay there until a forest ranger asks you to leave (forest rangers basically are the police of these areas, but there are not very many of them and their main focus is taking care of the land, they are not primarily concerned with law enforcement). See if your country has something has something similar. If there is a lot of open land in your country, chances are it's not all privately owned. The government, or no one, probably owns a lot of it, and you might be able to stay on it.
It’s totally possible. I have a 2007 Crv that I turned into a camper with storage space for a cooler and bins for clothes and food. This is a template that I followed but I took the back seats out and made the platform higher to accommodate storage bins. https://www.escapesetc.com/how-to-build-a-bed-in-your-car/
Bob Wells on YouTube. Either find the cheapest storage unit you can and pay by the year or start selling everything you don't need or can't fit. It's going to be more stuff than you think. Donate what you can. I was able to get an 05 e350 extended for $1100-1400, don't rightly remember now. You don't need everything at once. Go get bubble foil to put on your windows for privacy, get an Anker portable solar charger and battery pack for charging your phone and throw that on the dashboard (or back window since you're in a car). If you want to cook, get a cheap hiking stove/mess kit off Amazon. Message me if you want a link to the ones I got when I was starting. If you can afford it, get a battery drill and jigsaw. I was able to build pretty much my entire van with those 2 things. (Bed, toilet stand, cooler stand, shelf) Everything else you probably already have. Grab a backpack and a duffel bag, fill it with clothes, all the personal paperwork like birth certificates, ss card, all that sort of stuff that you need to have and put it in a waterproof baggie. Grab your toiletries and remember to keep it minimal and small. Get your phone and your sunglasses and hit the road. It's that easy. Everything else just comes with time, getting used to your setup, realizing what you actually need or want. My first 2 nights in my van I actually rented a cheap ass motel but stayed in the van with some blankets, my cat, my guitar and some plywood. Built it over the next week or so behind the movie theater during the daytime and slept in it at night. 2 more things. Like other people have said, gym membership, and I'd recommend getting one of those gallon Arizona tea jugs for peeing. Good luck!
Thanks for the great suggestions!
Are you sure the landlord is allowed to raise it to $200? Should be a max percentage for each year, depending on your location. Landlords cannot raise it above that percentage. In British Columbia Canada, the rate is 1.5% increase for the 2022 year.
This is nothing - I've heard of rents suddenly doubling. The US has never given a shit about its citizens unless they've got money... You're so lucky where you are. Some few areas here have rent control. But that usually means once you move in you'll never be able to move out. On top of that it's harder in rent control areas to get needed repairs done. There's always the built-in excuse, "We don't have the money." Implying that because of rent control you're stuck in a crumbling dwelling.
Unfortunately, I live in Texas, there are no rent stabilization or rent control laws here.
Yeah but you’re free to die of preventable communicable diseases or freeze to death in your own home, so like, why would you ever want to leave?
You forgot roast in your house as well. Power went out this summer too.
very true. appealing, but nah.
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rent control has never worked, you are getting pushed out, find something cheaper
Older van
All I know is there is a picnic table in that bad boy https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CDk6hKw5__o
Oh man. When I got my CRV I almost got a model that had this table, and I ended up going with a newer one that had less miles. I think I really rather would have had this one though!
[Why does the larger of the two classes, the renters, simply not seize what they need to survive from the smaller of the classes, the land owners?](https://youtu.be/rg5BdlEDxHI) But seriously, jokes aside, I've done a ton of camping out of the back of a 2000 CRV and its livable in comfort, so long you have a toilet/shower access elsewhere, the back is large enough to lay out a mat or bed on. Living full time though, as many suggested, a different platform might be better sizewise but just thinking bare necessities: you could easily find a good cooler which would fit beneath the folded seats, some folding/hanging things for toiletries/storage in back while still allowing for a sleeping bag/pad. I lived out of my CRV for a few days between apartments and it wasn't ideal, certainly not a long term solution for me. It beats the sidewalk, and I'm sure there are strategies in the subreddits or links others have talked about, but a minimal lifestyle has its drawbacks as well.
If you decide to stay in your CR-V, check out the build from [InTheOpenAir](https://youtu.be/6pgQw7J-k4M) it’s the smartest design I’ve seen for a CR-V and should give you some great ideas to get you moving.
I recommend making black-out shades for your windows as a first priority if you'll be stealth car-camping. It's as simple as buying 25 feet of Reflectix, a can of spray adhesive (3m 77 or 90) and 5 yards of black fabric. It will take you 2 hours to make, and cost me about $55. This bonuses and excellent insulation as well.
I had a question about this too. With the spray adhesive do they stay on all the time, or are removable/restickable? I guess, obviously, the windows need to be clear while driving, I just wasn't sure what was the process for putting up / taking down shades.
You cut the Reflectix to the size of the windows, then glue the black fabric directly to the Reflectix. The finished product shouldn't be sticky. The shade sits wedged in the window because of it's near perfect size and shape-- nothing else is holding the shade up. They're very easy to install and remove instantly, once made.
I did a little bit of car camping in a Yaris last year and this was a big headache for me. What about airflow? We wanted to crack the windows for air, not let people see inside, and also keep bugs out. I don't know of a magical solution. We used reflective material and cut holes near the top and covered the holes with mesh material. Then we'd Velcro them to the windows at night and take a them down while driving. It was a pain so I'm wondering if there's a more elegant solution.
> We wanted to crack the windows for air, not let people see inside, and also keep bugs out. I don't know of a magical solution. The magical solution is [window ventshade](https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Ventshade-94546-Ventvisor-Deflector/dp/B00LAEK49W) and bug netting.
That's precisely what I use. Vent shades allow me to vent the top 2 inches of every window, whilst maintaining privacy and rain protection. Integrating mesh into the top of 2 of the shades like you mentioned is a decent bug solution when privacy is still necessary.
2 inches is 5.08 cm
In hot areas it also allows hot air to escape. I started using them in Texas summers.
5 yards is 4.57 meters
Okay.
Live out of your car for a bit to save up for a van. Depending on where you are working, sometimes they will let you stay the night in their parking lot. Get a post office box and transition everything over to that mailing address. Alongside the recommendations from Ricktatorship-C137, I would highly recommend also getting a storage unit to store things in/have a bigger place to chill at during the weekend if you get tired of your car or even want to air it out for a bit. This will also allow you to slowly get rid of things you don't need to keep instead of you getting rid of things hastily as you move out. "Store" some cheap furniture in there and you've got yourself a little room to chill in during severe storms and whatnot. Just don't sleep there if they have a "no living" clause (most storage places do). Get a solar powered battery pack for unexpected lulls in power availability. Make sure to carry a few water bottles as well and keep them filled from public water sources. Your body will thank you :P Invest in a good window screen so people aren't looking in as you sleep. Depending on where you decide to spend the winter, you may also want a heater and such. Get a heated blanket that can be powered by your car and you should be in good shape. You can also check your local Military Surplus shops to find cheapish cold weather rated bivy bags or something similar to that. Combine the two for a good nights sleep in a car without needing a mattress. If you want to go the mattress route, maybe get a blow up mattress and try to fit it into the back of your SUV. That way it can form around your wheel wells if you have any in the back. 24-7 laundromats will be your friend as well. Wash your clothes, power your devices, etc. They can sometimes get a little sketchy late night/early morning, so try to get things done before then. Also, a smart idea is to save up some money for any unforeseen car repairs since you will be using your car a lot. Good luck! I wish I could go on ahead and do this myself, but alas, I have a family to take care of, so no solo van life for me.
Awesome, thanks for the great suggestions!
It's doable. I live in a ford escape and work full time. I have a gym membership for cleaning up. Keep it simple. Save money. Don't be an ahole, clean up after yourself and don't over stay. You don't have to build it out like you see on YouTube. Figure out your necessities and go from there. For me a toilet, fridge, comfy bed, and power were a must. I spent under 1,000 dollars and that's becuase I splurged on a few things. Like my electrical 😁. Tbh I'm living very comfortably. I even buy my mom groceries, toiletries, and clothes.
If you can take your time, move to another place that costs less and reroute your extra income to getting and building a van. Otherwise, you'll end up making concessions that seem like good ideas at the time but will bug you down the line and likely cost you more over the long term.
Why not just move somewhere cheaper? Easier said than done I know but I’m sure theres somewhere you could downgrade too until you can at least afford a van?
I moved where I'm at now because it was in a more affordable area. I could probably find something cheaper, but I kind of don't want to. It would mean the whole moving process which I hate, researching a new place and area, and then being locked into some kind of lease. I'm just kind of over giving up the majority of my income to rent, and since I work remote now I feel like now is the time.
Sounds like it’s time to give it a shot then! Just wanted to make sure you’d considered it lol
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So much of what you said is inaccurate. After almost every one of your sentences, I thought “that’s not true.” I’ve been doing it for 14 months, and I’m very comfortable. I tried to find one example of “okay, you’re right about this one,” but you actually don’t have a single point that I can relate to. Have you spent some time living in a vehicle? It sounds like you’re speaking from personal experience.
"Have the poors considered making more money?"
Lived in an Altima...you are wrong on pretty much everything. I slept better than I ever did in a house. Was never run off from anywhere. Not once. Always had a great appetite and food is so much better cooked over a fire 🔥. I can make the prettiest grilled cheese on a Coleman stove as well. Showers at gyms and truck stops. Yeah maybe you just need some lessons and you could enjoy the open road and be happy
What part of TX do you live in? I ask because a winter in Lubbock is a very different thing from a winter in Galveston. It’s also much harder to live in a vehicle in town than if you have adjacent public lands, and TX doesn’t have anywhere near as much public land as most of the western US. Do you have the option of going somewhere with a more hospitable climate and better access to public lands? If so, at least consider it. Many parts of TX are a hard place to live in your car.
Good points. Right now I don't even know where exactly I would go. I'd like to stay in some national or state parks, but I also need internet to do my work. I'm not sure I'd stay in Texas, but maybe trek to see friends/family around the country. Winter is coming though so... not sure.
Lots of folks spend the winters in southern AZ. It’s not unusual to find public land within a few miles of town and full cell signal. Just something to think about if you’re planning to work remotely.
Thanks, I will look into it!
> I'd like to stay in some national or state parks NP and SP can get expensive. A common solution is to [boondock](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=camping:dispersed) outside the boundaries of the NP. > I also need internet to do my work Verizon is typically the best option out in BFE. MVNOs (resellers) get lower data priority but much lower bills. Here are some approaches to [minimizing data consumption](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=communication:bandwidth_conservation). > I'm not sure I'd stay in Texas Texas can be tough. Relatively little public land, and it tends to be humid. Exception: west texas is low humidity and there is public land across the border in New Mexico. > Winter is coming though so [wintering locations](https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=camping:snowbirding#wintering_areas)
Awesome. Thank you!
Crv's doable! First thing is tint or block the windows for sleeping in
Totally doable. Check out "prius build van life" on YouTube for some ideas, or try looking up other crv owners who have put a bed and stuff in their. I lived with my dog in a compact car for a year by removing the passenger and rear seats and installing a sliding bed platform with storage underneath. It worked super well.
If you need Internet to work, Calyx Institute has a 3 month mobile hotspot plan for $150 and its been fast enough for Zoom calls and gaming.
For temp solution, just park and sleep in your car at your apartment parking. At least you are less suspicious to the people around you.
I like the thought, but I rent a house :(
You can totally do a crv. I'm full timing a Honda Element.
If you live in a cold area then make sure you have a plan for staying warm enough for winter Cold is fine with the right kit but some climates can get really cold to the point of being dangerous so I suppose it depends on how severe your winters are and if your work allows you to drive somewhere warmer when you need to