RV and vandwellers wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
rv:build:minimal

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision 		Previous revision
Last revision Both sides next revision
rv:build:minimal [2020/01/05 16:07]
frater_secessus [minimal build] 		rv:build:minimal [2021/06/01 16:07]
frater_secessus [the mental preparation]
Line 8: Line 8:
  
  
 +Vandwelling is a mental challenge more than anything else.  You will be living in a way that [[lifestyle:faq_objections|onlookers probably will not understand]] and may be hostile to. You will no longer be surrounded by comforting/distressing amounts of material possessions.  You will no longer have a single fixed place to call home;  lacking a fixed home will confuse governments, employers, businesses, and pretty much everyone else other than RV and van dwellers. 
 +
 +If you are doing **voluntarily vandwelling** you are probably adventurous and chomping at the bit.  These pages are designed to help you learn from the [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes|mistakes]] of others so you can make mistakes never seen before!  :-)
 +
 +If you are [[lifestyle:involuntary|involuntarily vandwelling]] you may feel shame, fear, or embarrassment.  There are two things for involuntary 'dwellers to remember:  
 +
 +  - **a van is shelter** when you need it (right now!).  Humans have taken opportunistic shelter in  places as long as we've been around. Caves, tents, trees, whatever.  It's what our species does.  We survive.  //You// will survive.
 +  - a vandwelling life is **a better way of life** for many people than living in a "sticks and bricks" house. Bob from Cheap RV Living, for example, started out in a van as emergency shelter after his divorce.  Now he thrives in his van and [[https://homesonwheelsalliance.org/|has helped thousands of others]] to thrive, too.  
 +
 +==== stuff ====
 +
 +Vandwelling will force you to confront your relationship to //stuff//, and by extension to consumer culture.  You simply [[rv:build:steps#downsizing|will not have room for stuff]].  It sounds scary but can be freeing. 
  
 ===== the build  ===== ===== the build  =====
Line 26: Line 38:
   * pee bottle:  wide mouth Gatorade or similar for men, widemouth jar (or [[https://amzn.to/2GEgBIkgo girl]] device + bottle) for women   * pee bottle:  wide mouth Gatorade or similar for men, widemouth jar (or [[https://amzn.to/2GEgBIkgo girl]] device + bottle) for women
   * poop emergencies - kitchen sized trash bags, toilet paper, baby wipes   * poop emergencies - kitchen sized trash bags, toilet paper, baby wipes
-  * a can opener +  * toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. 
-  * a change of clothes or two, especially underwear and socks +  * a [[https://amzn.to/37AYg7y|good can opener]] and the know-how to use it.  Practice beforehand! 
-  * if cold, a knit cap will really help keep you warm+  * a change of clothes or two, especially underwear and socks.  If cold, a knit cap will really help keep you warm
  
  
Line 42: Line 54:
 If you want to charge a laptop or run a CPAP, you can pick up [[https://amzn.to/2Lemg6j|a lithium "power station"]] and charge it when you stop for a sit-down meal, coffee, or anywhere else with an electrical recepticle.  This type of unit charges very well from an outlet, ok from solar, and poorly from a ciggy lighter socket unless you are driving.  The [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|fancier units]] get expensive quickly and are heavily driven by marketing.  At some point it will be cheaper to build [[electrical:12v:intro|a "real" power system]]. If you want to charge a laptop or run a CPAP, you can pick up [[https://amzn.to/2Lemg6j|a lithium "power station"]] and charge it when you stop for a sit-down meal, coffee, or anywhere else with an electrical recepticle.  This type of unit charges very well from an outlet, ok from solar, and poorly from a ciggy lighter socket unless you are driving.  The [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|fancier units]] get expensive quickly and are heavily driven by marketing.  At some point it will be cheaper to build [[electrical:12v:intro|a "real" power system]].
  
-A backpack and extension cord come in handy for recharging the power stations; you can put the battery in the backpack and run the extension plug to the wall.  No one needs to know you are charging a pack.  The key is to //charge every time you have the opportunity//.  Be relentless about power - you are responsible for every watt that goes in and out.+A **backpack and extension cord** come in handy for recharging the power stations; you can put the battery in the backpack and run the extension plug to the wall.  No one needs to know you are charging a pack.  The key is to //charge every time you have the opportunity//.  Be relentless about power - you are responsible for every watt that goes in and out.
  
 ==== minimal build ==== ==== minimal build ====
Line 51: Line 63:
  
   * a flashlight or area light, USB rechargeable if possible   * a flashlight or area light, USB rechargeable if possible
-  * an upgraded bed, like a cot or maybe simple bed frame+  * an upgraded bed, like a cot or maybe simple bed frame.  Cots can be leveled over uneven flooring [[https://youtu.be/25VBk8AOqRQ?t=290|using PVC sleeves]].
   * a camp stove or some other way to [[food:cooking|cook]], lighter   * a camp stove or some other way to [[food:cooking|cook]], lighter
   * a [[toilet:bucket|bucket toilet]]   * a [[toilet:bucket|bucket toilet]]
Line 57: Line 69:
   * a pocketknife   * a pocketknife
   * cooler for chilling small items   * cooler for chilling small items
 +
  
  
rv/build/minimal.txt · Last modified: 2021/06/01 16:09 by frater_secessus

Page Tools

Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International

affilliate disclosure

CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki