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Van life; lit or lame...

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MXmx
Posts: 345 - Karma: -155
Thinking or getting a van and either living out of it on the weekends or as a full time deal.

People hype van life so much online. Is there any downsides to it?

I plan on renting a van for a weekend and trying it up at bear mountain. Just wondering if there’s anything to be on the lookout for.
Dec 21 2019 2:28AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2826 - Karma: 5,367
WHITEFISHNATEI prefer to sleep in my $500k home that is 10 min from Whitefish Mtn resort.

So you gonna rent those corners of your lot or just be the guy who comes here to brag that you made all the financially sound choices in life?
Dec 26 2019 6:52PM
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WHITEFISHNATE
Posts: 93 - Karma: 131
50KalSo you gonna rent those corners of your lot or just be the guy who comes here to brag that you made all the financially sound choices in life?


Got 2 empty spare bedrooms if anyone is ever in WF and needs a place to crash. Glad to show you around the trees, I stay out of the park though. Too old (44)~!
Dec 26 2019 7:22PM
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MXmx
Posts: 345 - Karma: -155
Glen Plake is 55, 44 is not old.

When I worked at Deer Valley, I would regularly see 80-90 year olds skiing.
WHITEFISHNATEGot 2 empty spare bedrooms if anyone is ever in WF and needs a place to crash. Glad to show you around the trees, I stay out of the park though. Too old (44)~!
Dec 26 2019 8:08PM
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STEEZUS_CHRI5T
Posts: 2751 - Karma: 20,876
Cold at night? Just slam on your jimmy and roll over.
Dec 27 2019 9:17PM
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Bushdid9_11
Posts: 535 - Karma: 2,208
I'm currently fixing up an old van to make home this winter. Getting a solar setup for power, but I'm mostly curious about people's cooking habits for van life? anyone got experience/tips?
Jun 4 2020 1:29PM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9091 - Karma: 3,016
WHITEFISHNATEI prefer to sleep in my $500k home that is 10 min from Whitefish Mtn resort. I drive there in my $60k truck. Maybe you should work more and ski less.


You think all the people working two jobs and living in poverty arent working enough to afford your half million dollar house? You're from Whitefish man, that's a very wealthy area. You need to reassess your situation.
Jun 4 2020 2:15PM
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shoenice
Posts: 47 - Karma: 335
50KalBring the bottle into the next bathroom you goto and pour in the toilet. Rinse out and reuse.
where are you pouring out your piss jug?


Ray, these are dirty old piss jugs!
Jun 4 2020 3:46PM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 972 - Karma: 5,176
I’ve been fantasizing over the “off-grid” lifestyle for months now.


When corona virus hit and I was essentially sent home from college, I had this sort of realization that life could go to shit any second and that I am young and I should be taking advantage of my youth and try to make myself happy.

ive really wanted to travel and go on adventures and I’ve always loved building things (I’m going to college for physics and hoping to get a masters in some field of engineering).


So I have pretty much drained my savings in the last couple of months or so into this bad boy.

She’s a ‘96 Chevy Astro AWD van that I have built a custom high top for.


It is just barely tall enough for me (6’ 2”) to stand up in.

I have put roughly $3 grand into the van at this point (including the price of the van).

Going to be installing 200W of solar on the roof that runs to a 200ah battery.

I can post more pictures of the build as I go.

It’s been a huge learning process and it’s frustrating but very satisfying when you do things right.

planning on living in the van for a couple of months and driving around the US back out West to OR.


Jun 5 2020 3:12AM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 972 - Karma: 5,176
Here’s some more pictures.






Jun 5 2020 3:16AM
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Vitiligo
Posts: 535 - Karma: 1,126
PeppermillRenoAlso a dui waiting to happen even if you aren't driving if you like to drink forget about it.


If you leave the keys out of your vehicle you won't get a dui. Be smart. You can enjoy drinking and van life at the same time.
Jun 5 2020 5:04AM
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Vitiligo
Posts: 535 - Karma: 1,126
I have never gone full van life but have a lot of friends that have. I think that if you are in the right place in life to do so then go for it. If you have been working, saving right, and want to go explore with just you, a gf, a dog, or just yourself, then go for it. Find yourself or whatever you are feeling you need to do at that point in life.

But also, some of my friends who have done it under the right circumstances like I mentioned, loved it. But the ones who have loved it the most made some type of initial, well thought out plan. Van life isn't easy or lazy for most people. It takes a decent amount of planning, depending on how you want to live. Also, think of the time frame. You could save some money on food and extras and go for a while, but eventually, you will need some way to make money if you go long enough.

& if you are the type to not have a plan and could care less then you likely aren't even reading this thread. But if you are, have fun.
Jun 5 2020 5:15AM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,438
VitiligoIf you leave the keys out of your vehicle you won't get a dui. Be smart. You can enjoy drinking and van life at the same time.

Does this mean you'd be ok if you put the keys in a roofbox?
Jun 5 2020 10:35AM
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ASSholebomber22
Posts: 6594 - Karma: 69,705
VitiligoIf you leave the keys out of your vehicle you won't get a dui. Be smart. You can enjoy drinking and van life at the same time.


LazylightningDoes this mean you'd be ok if you put the keys in a roofbox?


Totally. Always come to newschoolers first for the best legal advice.
Jun 5 2020 10:58AM
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Bushdid9_11
Posts: 535 - Karma: 2,208
ScootSkiLyfeI have put roughly $3 grand into the van at this point (including the price of the van).

Going to be installing 200W of solar on the roof that runs to a 200ah battery.


What panels are you getting? I'm looking at some for mine and I'm a little worried about snow loading and whatnot over a winter
Jun 5 2020 12:59PM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 972 - Karma: 5,176
Bushdid9_11What panels are you getting? I'm looking at some for mine and I'm a little worried about snow loading and whatnot over a winter


HQST panels. Same exact panels as Renogy but cheaper. Paid 290 for 2 panels , 20A MPPT charge controller, cables, brackets, etc. Full kit I’m not sure if it came with fuses tho
Jun 5 2020 7:16PM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 972 - Karma: 5,176
Bushdid9_11What panels are you getting? I'm looking at some for mine and I'm a little worried about snow loading and whatnot over a winter


You’re probably going to want a secondary charge source. I’m probably going to go with a smart battery isolator since I have lead acid batteries (AGM)
Jun 5 2020 7:18PM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,438
BiffbarfTotally. Always come to newschoolers first for the best legal advice.

Name a better place to go 🤔
Jun 6 2020 9:49PM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 57,190
There’s so many cheap wagons and vans in NZ. A lot have been fitted out too. If you can afford to drop like $9k NZD you could get a van already set up for that off the grid lifestyle. Even so though, you can get a decent suby wagon for like $2k NZD (or a questionable one for less). Gotta love all the backpackers in NZ
O1L_CH4DI agree with you on that last bit.... dropping 145 on a sprinter like cmon man

but yeah my plan is to have a 4x4 sw maybe a subu to hit all the ski fields in NZ (fuck I wish I was a BC resident though)

put a big divider down the middle of the boot. Sleep on one side and have all my gear on the other. Simple asf


**This post was edited on Jun 6th 2020 at 10:32:28pm
Jun 6 2020 10:31PM
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highpeak
Posts: 426 - Karma: 2,209
ScootSkiLyfeHere’s some more pictures.








Looks sick good luck man. Post more pics as you go for sure
Jun 6 2020 10:35PM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 972 - Karma: 5,176
highpeakLooks sick good luck man. Post more pics as you go for sure


Thanks man will do!
Jun 6 2020 11:23PM
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