Log In

Your email is not your username

Register

If you were a member of the old Bodybuilding.com forums and would like to reuse your previous username, you can request it below. We use your email only for registration and do not store it. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.

Confirm your email

A registration code was sent to your email. Enter it here.

Welcome

You have successfully setup your account.

Sign in

Quick Navigation Bottom Misc
Forum » Anyone ever think about living in an RV/Camper Van?
  1. Results 1 to 26 of 26
  2. Page 1 of 1

Thread: Anyone ever think about living in an RV/Camper Van?

post 1628553583 01-14-2021, 08:36 AM
-
#1
  1. FoxMcCocks
  2. Banned
  1. FoxMcCocks
  2. Banned
  3. Join Date: Apr 2010
  4. Age: 35
  5. Posts: 7,694
  6. Rep Power: 0

Anyone ever think about living in an RV/Camper Van?

GF and I have been talking about doing this, mostly as a joke but maybe more than that.

- buy a really nice RV/van for less than what a down payment on any decent house/apartment in this area costs
- find a low-key 100% remote job so don't have to blow through all your savings
- sell our stuff, pack up the dogs, hit the road.
- Travel throughout the US and Canada

Leave corporate America/clown world behind and just go from national park to national park, stopping along the way at any place that might seem interesting
post 1628553773 01-14-2021, 08:39 AM
-
#2
  1. donblaximus
  2. Registered User
  1. donblaximus
  2. Registered User
  3. Join Date: Jul 2010
  4. Age: 50
  5. Posts: 12,396
  6. Rep Power: 70954
Been looking at Class B overland type but I believe there is too much demand right now. I wouldnt live in it but would cruise around for vacations. A nice one if you dont build if yourself is $150K.
post 1628553793 01-14-2021, 08:39 AM
-
#3
  1. martoch
  2. I'll kick your neck off
  1. martoch
  2. I'll kick your neck off
  3. Join Date: Feb 2008
  4. Location: Florida, United States
  5. Age: 52
  6. Posts: 15,327
  7. Rep Power: 241290
How will you get your mail and Amazon deliveries?

post 1628553833 01-14-2021, 08:39 AM
-
#4
  1. Stray800
  2. Zombie Survivalist
  1. Stray800
  2. Zombie Survivalist
  3. Join Date: May 2008
  4. Location: Florida, United States
  5. Posts: 15,279
  6. Rep Power: 24392
I'm seriously considering it, but I'm not mechanically inclined and worry about when breakdowns happen.

I follow a few people on IG that do it but I always assume they're trustfund babies that have a decent safety net.
post 1628553903 01-14-2021, 08:40 AM
-
#5
  1. HMFIC_BROWSIN
  2. Buy high, sell higher.
  1. HMFIC_BROWSIN
  2. Buy high, sell higher.
  3. Join Date: Feb 2009
  4. Location: Arizona, United States
  5. Posts: 73,524
  6. Rep Power: 348838
This is how id like to retire.

Would be fun af. Although it ends up being expensive af, even tho on paper it seems like it would be hella cheap.
post 1628554053 01-14-2021, 08:42 AM
-
#6
  1. Stray800
  2. Zombie Survivalist
  1. Stray800
  2. Zombie Survivalist
  3. Join Date: May 2008
  4. Location: Florida, United States
  5. Posts: 15,279
  6. Rep Power: 24392
Originally Posted By HMFIC_BROWSIN⏩
This is how id like to retire.

Would be fun af. Although it ends up being expensive af, even tho on paper it seems like it would be hella cheap.
RV's get sh!t gas milage. You'd spend alot of gas alone.
post 1628554403 01-14-2021, 08:45 AM
-
#7
  1. Hutrapper
  2. Registered User
  1. Hutrapper
  2. Registered User
  3. Join Date: Mar 2019
  4. Age: 56
  5. Posts: 19,739
  6. Subscribers: 1
  7. Rep Power: 249353
Friends of mine got married and bought one of those tiny jellybean looking trailers. Like a scamp or something.

Toured all around the US and Canada towing with a pontiac g5.

Sold trailer after for what they paid. Cheap as hell.
See BrianDaMans sig.

Rep SoapKing on sight crew.
Semi tradie crew
lol@tradies crew
Certified HTC
post 1628554563 01-14-2021, 08:48 AM
-
#8
  1. guest89
  2. Forever aBOARD
  1. guest89
  2. Forever aBOARD
  3. Join Date: Sep 2003
  4. Location: United States
  5. Posts: 41,693
  6. Rep Power: 169649
This is what I'm going to do when I retire (Likely early 50s). Will keep a home base in Louisiana but spend most of my years living in national parks/rural campgrounds.



I'll return home for holidays and hunting season.
post 1628555853 01-14-2021, 09:03 AM
-
#9
  1. IlChosenOne
  2. Biggest loads in the NW
  1. IlChosenOne
  2. Biggest loads in the NW
  3. Join Date: Jan 2015
  4. Location: Idaho, United States
  5. Posts: 20,788
  6. Rep Power: 259729
I’ve considered living in a camper van/converted van to keep living expenses low, especially while in school

I would make it nice and cozy on the inside, smash sloots from the club in it

Definitely would not live in one with a sloot tho lol
* Rawdog crew * Creampie crew * Poverty crew *

Haven't worn a condom since middle school crew

* HTC crew *
post 1628555943 01-14-2021, 09:05 AM
-
#10
  1. Nonsense916
  2. worst poster on the misc
  1. Nonsense916
  2. worst poster on the misc
  3. Join Date: May 2010
  4. Posts: 54,085
  5. Rep Power: 321216
Nope, always saw it as a homeless person thing to do.
Losers let it happen, winners make it happen.

Nonsense Army Crew.
post 1628556503 01-14-2021, 09:11 AM
-
#11
  1. Polaris
  1. Polaris
  3. Join Date: Feb 2003
  4. Posts: 63,719
  5. Rep Power: 568352
Maybe a bit, but never seriously. I have thought it would be cool to do an extended road trip around the country though. Most of the really long distance trips I've done in the past, I was in a hurry to get to my destination so didn't really get to check stuff out. On my move back from Cali I insisted I was going to at least stop at Zion, but didn't even do that.

As far as doing the RV thing - it's appealing in some ways, and I'm a real minimalist so I'd be fine in that regard...on the the other hand I like being settled and having a stable routine.
post 1628557603 01-14-2021, 09:26 AM
-
#12
  1. TBO1313
  2. Never Registered
  1. TBO1313
  2. Never Registered
  3. Join Date: Dec 2013
  4. Posts: 28,898
  5. Rep Power: 342064
Did this for 6 months in my 20s. Thought to myself "Why get locked into an apartment lease when I can just live in a camper with almost the same sq footage and pay half price while not sharing walls with neighbors?" Unless your a manlet don't do it. The "full size" shower and toilet are not actually full size and suck donkey balls after a couple weeks
6'2"

OMAD results: 2/15/19-235, 10/13/19-190

OHP-205 Bench- 245 Squat - 405 C&J - 245

2021 Spring cut: 195lbs starting weight
post 1628557623 01-14-2021, 09:26 AM
-
#13
  1. saltypits
  1. saltypits
  3. Join Date: Feb 2016
  4. Posts: 14,086
  5. Rep Power: 54189
OP would last about five minutes in one. Handling the poop is far beyond your soy boy abilities.
post 1628560373 01-14-2021, 10:01 AM
-
#14
  1. Inavan
  2. (btw I"m a HVM)
  1. Inavan
  2. (btw I"m a HVM)
  3. Join Date: Sep 2015
  4. Posts: 1,351
  5. Rep Power: 11994
I did this in 2015 and 2016. It's really easy and inexpensive to do.
Originally Posted By FoxMcCocks⏩
- buy a really nice RV/van for less than what a down payment on any decent house/apartment in this area costs
You don't want a "nice" RV. They are designed for weekend trips, require lots of upkeep, suck to live out of, and won't fit in lots of places to camp. The best vehicle is a white cargo van under 20' long so it will fit into a standard parking spot and will fit in enough to allow you to boondock in urban places.
- find a low-key 100% remote job so don't have to blow through all your savings
Cost is going to be determined by how much you drive. Around national parks and forests, there are tons of places to camp for free. You can also find cheap (less than $10 a day) campgrounds. I quickly developed a preference for free camping and boondocking because there were fewer or no people around. That means no generators running, dogs barking, kids screaming, people coming/leaving, etc.

Basic expenses never went over $1,500 a month. Entertainment and restaurants could push that higher, but I was spending the majority of my time camping, so I want cooking all my food.

You're likely not going to be able to get a reservation for a camp site in a national park, so if you want to visit parks, the best option is to boondock near the entrance. You can just drive in when the sun comes up. You can ask any park ranger and they'll tell you the popular spots. If you time your visits to Monday/Tuesday through Friday, no one will be around and the good boondocking sites will be empty.
- sell our stuff, pack up the dogs, hit the road.
- Travel throughout the US and Canada
It's really that easy. You'll be amazed at how little you need. I was in the process of getting my chit down to a single bag that weighs less than 15 lbs (6.8 freedom hating units) so I could travel around the world, but Covid wrecked those plans.
HVM + LTC + Rwdogger = AP3 Crew
post 1628563563 01-14-2021, 10:33 AM
-
#15
  1. engj
  2. Registered User
  1. engj
  2. Registered User
  3. Join Date: Nov 2009
  4. Location: Canada
  5. Posts: 18,637
  6. Rep Power: 113090
I cant really consider it with wife/kids/job currently but it is really appealing for some reason.

Tom Green has a pretty sweet setup.


------♥♥-----
----♥♥-♥♥----
---♥♥---♥♥---
---♥♥---♥♥---
---♥♥---♥♥---
----♥♥-♥♥----
-----♥♥♥-----
----♥♥-♥♥----
---♥♥---♥♥---
--♥♥-----♥♥--
post 1628565623 01-14-2021, 10:55 AM
-
#16
  1. EDcellent
  2. You too
  1. EDcellent
  2. You too
  3. Join Date: May 2009
  4. Location: Connecticut, United States
  5. Posts: 14,086
  6. Rep Power: 140306
I've looked into it, unfortunately with me being a snowcel there's no year round campgrounds near me.

I've thought about buying my own land and living in an RV, but not having a constant source of water and utilities would be tough. An RV is a lot harder to keep heated than a house. I'm just looking into a cabin or a shed to house conversion.
post 1628565883 01-14-2021, 10:59 AM
-
#17
  1. FoxMcCocks
  2. Banned
  1. FoxMcCocks
  2. Banned
  3. Join Date: Apr 2010
  4. Age: 35
  5. Posts: 7,694
  6. Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted By Inavan⏩
I did this in 2015 and 2016. It's really easy and inexpensive to do.



You don't want a "nice" RV. They are designed for weekend trips, require lots of upkeep, suck to live out of, and won't fit in lots of places to camp. The best vehicle is a white cargo van under 20' long so it will fit into a standard parking spot and will fit in enough to allow you to boondock in urban places.



Cost is going to be determined by how much you drive. Around national parks and forests, there are tons of places to camp for free. You can also find cheap (less than $10 a day) campgrounds. I quickly developed a preference for free camping and boondocking because there were fewer or no people around. That means no generators running, dogs barking, kids screaming, people coming/leaving, etc.

Basic expenses never went over $1,500 a month. Entertainment and restaurants could push that higher, but I was spending the majority of my time camping, so I want cooking all my food.

You're likely not going to be able to get a reservation for a camp site in a national park, so if you want to visit parks, the best option is to boondock near the entrance. You can just drive in when the sun comes up. You can ask any park ranger and they'll tell you the popular spots. If you time your visits to Monday/Tuesday through Friday, no one will be around and the good boondocking sites will be empty.



It's really that easy. You'll be amazed at how little you need. I was in the process of getting my chit down to a single bag that weighs less than 15 lbs (6.8 freedom hating units) so I could travel around the world, but Covid wrecked those plans.
Strong AF username to post ratio
post 1628566443 01-14-2021, 11:07 AM
-
#18
  1. Tornach
  2. OG @ Castle Grayskull
  1. Tornach
  2. OG @ Castle Grayskull
  3. Join Date: Aug 2012
  4. Location: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
  5. Posts: 16,159
  6. Rep Power: 51309
Get a pickup and pull a trailer. It would work out better than an RV or a camper.
Rustling NPCs' jimmies without even trying crew

"I've watched a lot of movies, I know what I'm doing."

"The Best Revenge is Massive Success"

Not going to be a Darkseeker crew.


RIP Duckenheimer
RIP SemperFudge
post 1628571503 01-14-2021, 12:04 PM
-
#19
  1. Inavan
  2. (btw I"m a HVM)
  1. Inavan
  2. (btw I"m a HVM)
  3. Join Date: Sep 2015
  4. Posts: 1,351
  5. Rep Power: 11994
Originally Posted By Tornach⏩
Get a pickup and pull a trailer. It would work out better than an RV or a camper.
That depends on where people plan to go.The most important thing is to have a small vehicle.Everyone that does this has the same experience where they are shocked at all the useless stuff they bring with them.

In the western part of the US, a trailer is a terrible idea. They suck in the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. Most of the camp grounds were designed before people had giant RVs and trailers.

On the rare occasions when I'd pay for a camp ground it would be a common occurrence to see people unable to either back their trailer into a spot, they wouldn't fit, or they couldn't even get into the campground. Never mind going on forest service roads and whatnot.

Truck campers are bad because they are heavy and have clearance problems which means you'll never fit into a parking garage. They are also a pain to setup/takedown and just fkinLOL at urban boondocking in one.

A vehicle I'd recommend to any USbrahs wanting to do this would be a 9th gen Chevy Suburban. You can take out all of the back seats and have enough room for a roughly queen size bed and more than enough storage. They have 4x4 and the engines are in the LS family so you'll never have to worry about parts availability, cost, or finding someone that can work on them.
HVM + LTC + Rwdogger = AP3 Crew
post 1628571863 01-14-2021, 12:08 PM
-
#20
  1. Nocturnal310
  2. F*ck Joe Biden
  1. Nocturnal310
  2. F*ck Joe Biden
  3. Join Date: Oct 2009
  4. Location: New York, New York, United States
  5. Posts: 19,082
  6. Rep Power: 45402
checkout Tom Green on youtube..he also came on joe rogan recently...he started living in a nice custom build van and shares his videos.

its pretty popular nowadays

i have done car camping a few times and its fun.
F*ck Joe Biden

"Your problem is you spent your whole life thinking there are rules. There aren't. We used to be gorillas. All we had is what we could take and defend." - Lorne Malvo

“I'll do anything usually if there's money involved and little work.” — Daniel Tosh

Chef Crew | NYC Crew | Knee Draggers Crew | Wristwatch Crew
post 1628572743 01-14-2021, 12:16 PM
-
#21
  1. shmobin
  2. Registered User
  1. shmobin
  2. Registered User
  3. Join Date: Feb 2012
  4. Location: United States
  5. Posts: 10,877
  6. Rep Power: 68142
That's how I'm checking out once I'm done shoveling money.
post 1628572993 01-14-2021, 12:19 PM
-
#22
  1. Stray800
  2. Zombie Survivalist
  1. Stray800
  2. Zombie Survivalist
  3. Join Date: May 2008
  4. Location: Florida, United States
  5. Posts: 15,279
  6. Rep Power: 24392
Originally Posted By Inavan⏩
A vehicle I'd recommend to any USbrahs wanting to do this would be a 9th gen Chevy Suburban. You can take out all of the back seats and have enough room for a roughly queen size bed and more than enough storage. They have 4x4 and the engines are in the LS family so you'll never have to worry about parts availability, cost, or finding someone that can work on them.
Whats the legality of sleeping in your vehicle?

Would you limo tint the back of the suburban and just stay low key or is it not a big deal?
post 1628573043 01-14-2021, 12:19 PM
-
#23
  1. Visel
  2. Progression
  1. Visel
  2. Progression
  3. Join Date: Jan 2019
  4. Posts: 13,618
  5. Rep Power: 85588
Can be like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon OP.



From what I understand, a lot of the time mobile homes go down in value, which sucks. Opposite of a house or perhaps condo which is expected to go up over time.

If your perspective on a mobile home is being able to avoid rent/mortgage, and perhaps having good deals on mobile home community expenses / property taxes... you can save a ton of money while in a mobile home OP. Eventually could buy a nice house with a nice down payment in like 3-5 years.

A co worker I knew did that. Lived in a mobile home for a long time, perhaps more than a decade, and then now lives in a nice house, after having saved money along the way.
post 1628573143 01-14-2021, 12:20 PM
-
#24
  1. Tornach
  2. OG @ Castle Grayskull
  1. Tornach
  2. OG @ Castle Grayskull
  3. Join Date: Aug 2012
  4. Location: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
  5. Posts: 16,159
  6. Rep Power: 51309
[QUOTE=Inavan post_id=1628571503]That depends on where people plan to go. [B]The most.[/QUOTE]How about backing the trailer up and then taking if off and using two spaces? One parking space for the trailer and one for the pickup. I know some places are tight when it comes to spacing.
Would you be interested in starting a AMA thread and sharing your experiences? Srs
I bet a lot of miscers would be interested.
Rustling NPCs' jimmies without even trying crew

"I've watched a lot of movies, I know what I'm doing."

"The Best Revenge is Massive Success"

Not going to be a Darkseeker crew.


RIP Duckenheimer
RIP SemperFudge
post 1628573693 01-14-2021, 12:26 PM
-
#25
  1. Kev1972
  2. Registered User
  1. Kev1972
  2. Registered User
  3. Join Date: Jun 2013
  4. Location: Big Arm, Montana, United States
  5. Posts: 49,924
  6. Rep Power: 287644
Originally Posted By Tornach⏩
Get a pickup and pull a trailer. It would work out better than an RV or a camper.
Too limiting. Most resort towns don't allow trailers or RVs.

With a converted cargo van you can stealth camp in town.

I'd also be able to haul my motorcycle and kayaks inside.

Wouldn't want to live in it but would be cheaper than the $200 I pay for a garage every month.
Motorcycle crew
Army veteran crew
One Meal a day crew
post 1628575413 01-14-2021, 12:42 PM
-
#26
  1. Tornach
  2. OG @ Castle Grayskull
  1. Tornach
  2. OG @ Castle Grayskull
  3. Join Date: Aug 2012
  4. Location: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
  5. Posts: 16,159
  6. Rep Power: 51309
Originally Posted By Kev1972⏩
Wouldn't want to live in it but would be cheaper than the $200 I pay for a garage every month.
Yup, I tend to travel off the beaten path and stay away from the tourist areas.

You should be able to find some outdoor places for 100 a month. I know that the weather conditions are pretty rough up there during the winter. Will the cold/snow wreck your vehicle? (Our winters probably aren't as cold as the ones in your area)
Rustling NPCs' jimmies without even trying crew

"I've watched a lot of movies, I know what I'm doing."

"The Best Revenge is Massive Success"

Not going to be a Darkseeker crew.


RIP Duckenheimer
RIP SemperFudge
Quick Navigation Top Misc
Bookmarks
Digg.com
Digg
del.icio.us
del.icio.us
Stumbleupon.com
StumbleUpon
Google.com
Google
Facebook.com
Facebook
Posting Permissions
  1. You may not post new threads
  2. You may not post replies
  3. You may not post attachments
  4. You may not edit your posts