Living in my car

[Xanthorhizas]

Ok I lasted two nights so far. Argh. It might be time for the long ride home followed up by a search for a bigger rig.

For car dwelling, that's my favorite resource:
http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/

Snik, I find that quite an accomplishment!

Kaylee, that was the resource I'd been following, though haven't gone past the tiny step of testing out my sleeping situation in a nearby park! It was only a few seconds of lying on my bed when I suddenly felt claustrophobic and nauseous. I quickly sat in the driver's seat to regain my composure when a couple park rangers stopped to check on me (probably noticed my obvious lack of composure?). I assured them that I would be okay...but I felt emotionally frustrated and have been at a standstill with my nomadic project for a long time now...

[Snikwahjm]

I’ve been researching all week to figure out what kind of van I'm going to buy. X you are right a car won’t work for some of us. God bless those that can manage it though.

So a car isn’t going to work for me.... it’s between a Connect and a full sized Chevy van...

[Kaylee]

It was only a few seconds of lying on my bed when I suddenly felt claustrophobic and nauseous. I quickly sat in the driver's seat to regain my composure when a couple park rangers stopped to check on me (probably noticed my obvious lack of composure?). I assured them that I would be okay...but I felt emotionally frustrated and have been at a standstill with my nomadic project for a long time now...

Virtual Hug to you, X!!!

How about experimenting close to home?
Is there some place you would feel safer/safest?
It's ok to take teensy itsy bitsy steps!

Think of the first time you walked on ice.
Shuffling/waddling along carefully is fine.
Start as a Penguin, and ignore anyone who claims you start as an Otter.
Penguins are cool.

Even sitting in the driver's seat, and just closing your eyes is a good first step.
Don't let anyone "push" you.


Snik:
I am so very ignorant about ground vehicles.
What are the big diffs with those?

You already have van experience, so you're way ahead of most!
Your toilet setup is awesome.

Other than my mechanical catastrophes, and some very minor issues, the van really is a perfect living space for me.
It really helps that I experimented so much in my stationwagon. Sooooo much easier in any van.

[Snikwahjm]

Kaylee, the Ford Transit Connect is pretty darn small. But it is bigger than my FIT. It does have front wheel drive and gets pretty good mileage. The Chevy Express is a full sized regular van like you have. I have been playing with some graph paper trying to see if it is realistic to haul everything I think I might possibly need. I test drove one and I really liked it. It also has a pretty good warranty. I’ve watched a bunch of videos on Connect setups. I think you would have to be very minimal and out doors a lot. The drivers seat is not comfortable in either. If I got a Chevy express I wouldn’t get another high top any way. With the high top, we were all over the road and in wind we were REALLY all over the road. Made my shoulders ache to drive like that. So neither one would have stand up space. I spent a few months by my self living in the full sized van in the driveway until it was too cold. I had a lot of room in there. There is considerable difference in size. In the Connect I’m thinking a pretty narrow bed would help. Some people are using split mattresses and shifting around a lot. Argh. I would just use a cot sized mattress. I’m also thinking using a Connect would be like having to think back packing but it might turn out ok. Maybe figure out how to pull out the passenger seat. Same foot print for solar panels but higher watt? Then again the full sized van would have enough room to spread out. But I don’t have to take everything I own anyway. Keeping things small and light would be pretty much the only way to use the Connect and maybe a very good discipline. I still waffle.... space when you are stuck in there a few days..... front wheel drive, better mileage... either one has decent resale value.

[Kaylee]

Snik: thanks for the downside of "high tops"!
I'd never heard anyone point that out. Bravo!

I was getting back pains at first, until I realized the key is to almost always stay seated. Either on one's bed, or on a stool, or on The Bucket.

Yes, mileage is a killer! My old wagon got close to three times what I'm getting now.

Have you tried marking out the two spaces inside your s&b, and kind of grok/feel them out for a few days?

You're doing things right: experiment, consider, plan, think, think some more, and continue experimenting.

[Snikwahjm]

I like the toilet set up. I used it until I had the bathrooms done on the house.

[Snikwahjm]

I haven’t marked off the space yet. I have thought about moving furniture to fit the Connect to see what might work but I know there are four doors and wheel wells to work around. I’ve been mostly thinking about it. As far as it goes I already know how much space there is in a full sized van.

Yeah sit down for everything. Lay on the bed to zip, etc. the Connect is about 6 inches shorter than the full sized van. But if there was room to haul it maybe you could park it sorta under a pop up canopy.

[Snikwahjm]

I totally forgot about the potty box we had a long time ago. It was an empty ice cream carton. It said pecan (pee can) right on the side of it. It worked. Now days they are too small.

[RoamerRV428]

too funny!

[Abnorm]

^^^^ We used a CHARLIE CHIP can in the van for a bucket in the 70's