Homless in a Sedan

Hi Hilly! Your story sounds awesome! How did you come to live out of your car?

 

Some bootleg motels will let you live there and charge you a weekly rent, ask around. Atleast you can watch tv, shower and keep food in the fridge.

 

 
Well, howdy possible soon to be fellow RVer.
 
I use my mom's Tioga every now and then. They're good RVs. Mine is a 30 foot model, no slideout.
 
But they're cheaply made. If you get one, make sure it has the Triton 6.8 V10 engine. The 460. Those fuckers are indestructible.
 
Pace arrow will be a good choice. Try to look around on Craigslist. Can get a 80s Bounder or Pace for like ~$5k
 
Here's some pointers;
 
The most important; use a good roof cleaner and sealant. This helps preserve the roof, and helps prevent nasty leaks. Mindful that roofs are the most exposed part of the rig. Always check the integrity of the ladder (usually bolts and silicone sealant) before climbing on the roof.
 
Second most; slideouts give a lot of extra room, but also have their own set of issues. Keep the slidout assembly lubricated religiously.
 
1. Become a camp host. Free living and free hookups.
 
http://www.camp-host.com/
 
2. Try to drive with empty holding tanks. I repeat. Drive with empty holding tanks. The heat generated by the brakes are enough to heat up a few weeks worth of shit. It smells. BAD.
 
3. Back pressure on the sewer hose. I learned this the hard way. Remember the scene in RV, where Robin Williams gets turd all over him? That happened to me. Across the face. When you're hooked up to hookups, only leave your gray water (Sink, washers, shower) water valve open. Dump the black tank (toilet) as needed. Always dump the black tank first, then gray.
 
4. When driving aforementioned RV, downshift the engine up and down hills so you don't burn your brakes out. Made that mistake a few times.
 
5. Buy 1 GOOD sewer hose, and a second cheap one. I've been using the same Rhino Flex hose since my mom got our first RV (a tent trailer) when I was 8. 20 now. Get a 15 foot Rhino Flex and like a 5-10 foot cheap one. Use the Rhino when connected to hookups, and the cheap china one at the dump station.
 
6. Use good toilet treatment, and septic safe TP. I like using TST. If not available, I use Thetford aquakem cleaner. Both break down sewer very good.
 
7. Try not to drive with firewood and a full water tank. They weigh down the RV at the drive axles (rear) and you'll start to bog down on hills.
 
8. Rest areas can be used overnight if need be.
 
9. Change the generator oil per your owners manual instructions. This is separate from the main engine. Get it serviced, and run it every now and then. Onan makes excellent generators.
 
10. At the mechanics, you can use a motor oil additive for the shelf life.
 
11. If you're "dry camping" (No "shoreline" hookups) and you're engine won't start, use the generator to charge the main battery.
 
12. On the auxiliary batteries, make sure you or a professional monitor the levels of battery acid. Only use distilled water.
Buy deep cycle marine batteries only.
 
13. Turn propane off for safety when driving. Also, you can buy a 100lb tank and an adapter, then run the rig on the external tank.
 
14. Try to buy a rig with a 3 way refrigerator. Meaning it can run off the RV battery, the 30 amp hookup at an RV park, or off propane. Same applies for the water heater.
 
15. Keep your showers to a minimal time frame. Most rigs only have a 6 gallon water heater. Get a shower head with a stopping lever, this way you pop it out and the water stays the same temp.
 
16. Try to keep from using bleach. This messes with the holding tanks. Use Dawn and septic safe dish soaps.
 
17. If you get a rig with a washer and dryer, make sure it's an all in one unit. Saves space.
 
18. Shower houses. Many state parks, like Carpinteria have coin operated showers. Keep a spare roll or two of quarters in the rig.
 
19. Octane in fuel breaks down. This is especially true on fuel with ethanol (Almost all stations). Fill up with grade 91 fuel if possible.
 
20. Cell phones, laptops with DC cords can be charged in the drivers area of the rig when you're dry camping. A good inverter will be a God-send.
 
21. 120V AC power does not work unless either the generator is on or you're connected to shore power.
 
22. Get a funnel. You can fill the water tank with gallon jugs. Albeit, it is a gigantic pain in the ass to do so.
 
23. Have a good water filter at the kitchen sink. Saves money in place of buying bottled water all the time.
 
24. You can try to get a job as an interpretive park ranger in a place like Yosemite. Free housing and some income. No smog needed if you have a pre 1997 diesel engine or live in a national park. At least in California.
 
25. No need for satellite TV. Get a cheap converter box for digital TV. You may only get a few stations but it's enough to watch the news or a soap opera to kill time.
 
26. Speaking of killing time, you can get some board games, some marshmallows and a box of graham crackers. Boom, free entertainment around the campfire.
 
27. You can camp at some forest campgrounds for as little as $5/night with like a 4 week limit. Keep a checkbook handy, no debit/credit cards accepted. Cash and check only. This is precisely why I STILL carry a checkbook at all times like my parents did.
 
28. Try county parks and lakes. Here's a nice one in my area. Has free showers, full hookups, and covered picnic areas. Payphones as well.
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/hidden-view/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73203
 
29. On the note of payphones, use them. Keep a cheap Tracfone for family and job interviews. As far as I know, Tracfone is the only pay as you go phone left. Otherwise, pick up a phone card like the "Ambassador" for $5 and sometimes the 800 calls are free on payphones.
 
30. Sleeping in the cold? Use either a Cabelas sleeping bag, or a military modular sleep system. The Military MSS is probably the best sleeping bag on earth, albeit its hefty pricetag. I keep one in my truck.
 
http://tacticalintelligence.net/blog/military-sleep-system.htm
 
The sleeping bag I use at home is discontinued, but it's a Cabelas Outfitter XL, rated to -20F. Very good bag all around. Would buy again 10/10
This is the replacement
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Sleeping-Bags|/pc/104795280/c/104770080/Boulder-Creek-Oversized-Cotton-Canvas-0F-Sleeping-Bag/1733380.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsleeping-bags%2F_%2FN-1100675%2FNo-48%2FNs-MIN_SALE_PRICE%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNP%26recordsPerPage%3D48
 
31. On the note of HVAC, you can shut off the vents in unused room s(Bathroom, front, etc) and have more where you're sleeping. Ducted heating and AC is a nice feature to have on a larger rig.
 
I'll add more if I could think of any.
 
If you have any questions, quote me or shout me a PM. I've been RVing since I was in diapers.

 

Oh, I know I forgot a few...
 
- On your generator, you'll see an altitude selector with 3 settings. Sea, 5000 feet, 10000 feet. Adjust it accordingly so it won't run rich.
 
- Rocks make a really good sewer hose support. So do empty pop/beer cans in a pinch.
 
I never realized the processes behind disposing of human waste on an RV until I made this list. I guess after 12 years, it's just natural.
 
- Spend the $200 for good tire covers for the rig. Tires sitting that long are very succeptible to dry rot from the sun. A new set of tires is easily in the 1200-$1500 range. This seemingly hundreds of dollar investment will save you a lot of money in the long term. I prefer Michelin LTX M/S tires for the motorhome. Very nice tread and handles well both on and off road.
 
- On that note, have tires with a mud and snow rating (M/S). This allows you to get through some chain checkpoints without needing to chain up. R2 or above, you still have to though. Most of the time, the roadway is plowed by the time R2 can go into effect.
 
- Try to idle the engine at least once a week. Also, check for the obvious signs of rodent activity in the engine compartment. Rats like to gnaw through hoses and what not. Also, squirrels are a frickin menace for RV owners. I've seen those rat bastards get sucked into air intakes, just their ass sticking out of the engine bay. 
 
-If you're already homeless, save your money on not buying a gas grill. Use the camp grills and firegrates. Nothing beats the taste of charcoal.
 
-As you probably already know, you can really save buying in bulk. Try to make 1 big shopping run, instead of one here and there. Big bill, but smaller in the longrun of course. It also really sucks to be out in the middle of nowhereville, and be mid shower to realize you just ran out of shaving cream, then have to run to the mini mart half shaved to buy a can for $5 when a 3 pack is $10 at Costco. Been there, done that one.
 
-Always ask the local park ranger of local LEO is wood gathering is lawful. Some areas it's a big fine, other where OK. Save money doing this. Have an axe and a good machete handy.
 
- On that other note of having a water filter, try to stock up on Gatorade packets and the like. I would much rather drink cool Kool aid than dinky RV park water ANY day. A 2 quart pitcher does so many wonders to morale when camping.
 
-Cabinetry. Secure your items in overhead bins with good bungee cords or a cheap metal rail. This prevents crap from flying out on sharp turns. Again, been there done that.
 
Oh, and some etiquette type stuff;
 
- Don't run your generator at odd hours for long periods. Sound travels. No one wants to hear a loud genny going at 11pm
-At truck stops, in an RV, try to park away from truckers.
 
Here's a good forum as well.
 
http://www.irv2.com/forums/

 

That's awesome i want to do this as well but like you said gas is a motherfucker lol

 

Man he can write

 

Thanks man! I ain't no english major, but I love writing about the things I love (And sometimes, strongly dislike) lol.
It is also notable that i was intensely stoned after taking a 18 month t break when i wrote said post
 

No problem Hilly! Hope my wall of text didn't confuse you. Good luck in your endeavors

 

quadridincopedipper  sure knows his RV's

 

When I'm traveling and I don't have the money for a night I will sleep in the car also, I like holiday inn express's. if anything, NEVER stay at the the cheap motels in the area, always expensive places because ghetto people who make ghetto hotels ghetto, can't afford to hang around there
I also like to go inside in the morning to use the restroom and eat a free breakfast

I wish I could drop every thing and go on a unending road trip
Shit I feel you about having all the shit tv tells us to have...that for some reason made me unhappy. I don't have as much money as I used to, but I found other things that makes me so much more happier then a bunch of crap

 

Damn right bud. All day, every day we are surrounded by advertisements.

When you're, say at Costco. Just one time, put some time into looking for ads. Bet you'll find a hundred of them.

Get this brand, that credit card, these tires, this TV, this fathers day gift.

It's all materialism bro, the ratrace for who drives the newest car, has the greenest grass, the softest skin.

On another note, look at the Bracebridge dinner in Yosemite. It's $420 per person per play, rooms at the Ahwahnee are as high as $1,200 a night. add gas , souveneirs, various munchies, tips and room service and that could become a $9,000 trip. But you want to know how many people will put it all on their AmEx to brag to their neighbors, yet spend months paying that shit off? No thanks.

(Rant over)

The TV and materialism alike is mainly an outlet to distract the sheeple from the real shit going on that will eventually destory us.

Nope. We're not in debt, everything is looking up, GMOs is good for you. No it's all good watch your drama shows, don't mind the threats we face, a screwed economy, our budget deficit. Welcome to Walmart, get your flushot and sign up for our 30% APRA credit card.

There's a reason I haven't watched TV in 3 years, drive 2 paid off vehicles and pay cash for everything. If I can't afford it, I ain't buying it

 

Yea it's funny. I like looking at some of the stupid people out there, all wrapped up into themselves, thinking they are the shit, but they are only slaves and don't even know it lmao

 

hey Hilley what kind of puppies do you have?
Be carefull traveling with your animals, especially young ones. Because
We drove 9 hours once to get some gsp's, they were a few months old, vaccinated twice. we spent the night at a hotel then drove back home.
7 days later one of them died of parvovirus and the other one beat it...the ONLY place the dogs were besides our car and home, even outside our home was the hotel parking lot where they peed and poop.

 

1. An object at rest remains at rest until it moves.
2. Force = 5-0
3. Conserve gas when you can and buy more when you need it.

 

thanks all for your help to this sweet couple and their four pawed kids. I especially appreciate the links for the sleeping bags. if anyone wants to offer ideas or connections to like minded travelers heading to the western slope this winter, please pm me. I really would like to be up in Nederland trimming Fall harvest but that aint happening. will keep my job on the front range for now and plan to get a small trailer for the move. anybody have experience around Copper Mt ? i never been there but like to squirt kayak, ski tele, and massage for $.

 

If you do get an rv, you could always work at KOA campgrounds, the work isn't bad but it always depends on each individual campground. Some are independently owned.

From my experience working at one for 6 years and with people who have worked at many all over the country the work isn't bad. It's generally just cleaning campsites/bathrooms or working the main desk checking people in/ making reservations and general customer service.

Meet lots of great people from working with them or regulars at the campground.

Probably very far from the answers you were looking for or expecting but just wanted to let you know about this option!