17 replies to this topic

[btp]

So, I guess this is what a mid-life crisis "idea" looks like, but does anyone else have any interest in "alternative shelters" or van living?

 

I have this weird idea to take on old van and stick a wood-burning stove in there for a simple kind of RV-like vehicle. Not fancy, but warm and sheltered.

 

Have also heard of some folks buying real cheap plots of wooded land and just building a simple pallet house or hunting shack out there and living quietly, alone. Don't know how long I could do that for, but I'm at least thinking of (maybe someday) doing the van thing.

 

Just something simple I can drive around. Not as a replacement home (I love my house), but just a way to be on the road and stay warm.

 

 

[Arathu]

I've definitely seen a potbelly stove in a van before.......called it the caboose....

 

After something like this......(the old man was a railroader)

 

 

Scaled down from this but still modeled after an old caboose, finished in wood, little mini pot belly stove is all you need.....you gotta watch you don't suffocate yourself....

 

I like little stoves in canvas wall tents too, i.e. truck camping since I don't have a horse........

 

Obviously fire is a major hazard...I've done my share of roaming and "roughing it" back in the day....

 

Age and worn out back put a halt to most of my shenanigans....but it was fun

 

A 

[Juthro]

This Dickinson stove was designed for use on sail boats, but I've seen one retrofit in a RV van conversions before. They have a lot of heat shielding built into the design, so they need very little clearance.  Dickinson also make similar stoves that run on propane and diesel, no electric needed.

 

[Direct Link]

[btp]

Dhanyavad, guys. It's good to know other have done it, and enjoyed it. The wood finish looks beautiful, Arathu. Cozy.

 

Thanks, Juthro! That looks little and might work great for a tiny space. Simple is good.

[pharmer]

There are tons of youtubes on the topic of van living. I'd guess living that way for a year or two would be WAY different than just vacationing for a couple weeks.

 

If everything you need must be on that vehicle or within a reasonable drive to town your priorities have to be right.

 

I've done 7-10 day vacations sleeping in campgrounds and impromptu bivouacs on National Forest land while out taking pictures. My nature is to get back to nature as often as possible but it sure feels nice to get home and sleep in my own bed without thinking about coyotes, coons etc getting into the camp and causing havoc :)

 

It's easy enough to feed yourself for a week if you have a good cooler and occasional access to an ice machine which most small towns and National Parks have or have very nearby. But Hell Yeah got out in the wilderness for a week anytime you can. Seems to me you enjoy it more as the years add up.

 

Check out the photography thread. I have some stuff from recent trips to share.

[btp]

But Hell Yeah got out in the wilderness for a week anytime you can. Seems to me you enjoy it more as the years add up.

 

I hope to. :) Just got back east not long ago, and dang, the mountains are pretty. Had forgotten what mountains look like. The older I get, the more I appreciate quiet and solitude. I'll check out the thread, Pharmer, thank you.

[Severian]

Have lived in a caboose before with a wood stove

 

Last year lived in a short bus with a wood stove.

 

It's great- until it starts freezing.

[btp]

Have lived in a caboose before with a wood stove

 

Last year lived in a short bus with a wood stove.

 

It's great- until it starts freezing.

Huh, so basically it's not quite sufficient to keep warm in the coldest temperatures? That's helpful. I was kind of under the impression that it'd be ok no matter what (fire is fire), but what did you find the limits of the system to be, if you don't mind my asking?

 

Thanks for the downside info, that's helpful, too.

[Arathu]

Yes indeed...living by the fire is primitive shit...which includes a certain set of requirements I suppose...

 

Freezing sucks no matter what you have to combat it with.....

 

It is true that my house with a high efficiency gas furnace is pretty comfortable relatively speaking

 

Freezing temps and living by fire with a fireplace(s) and masonry heat sinks RULES....but requires serious physical labor and/or money (usually both)

 

I still think humanity should move under ground and come up to hunt, and play.....and pick weed and mushrooms....

 

Do what makes you happy.....until you need to change......

 

Speaking of good nights sleep......I'm going there now

 

A

[Severian]

 

Have lived in a caboose before with a wood stove

 

Last year lived in a short bus with a wood stove.

 

It's great- until it starts freezing.

Huh, so basically it's not quite sufficient to keep warm in the coldest temperatures? That's helpful. I was kind of under the impression that it'd be ok no matter what (fire is fire), but what did you find the limits of the system to be, if you don't mind my asking?

 

Thanks for the downside info, that's helpful, too.

 

You could definitely survive if you had enough wood- but it wouldn't be exactly comfortable.

 

The insulation in a vehicle is not enough, (unless you do a serious job of adding extra insulation) to combat the freezing temps.

 

Yeah, you can get a raging fire and be good for awhile- but that heat is gonna leak out real easy.  And finding a good balance between good fire and too hot is a bit challenging-

I suppose I was using collected firewood- so didn't have the advantage of cut cords of hardwood to manage the temperature as well as could be done- but would frequently get a good fire going and then have it turn to ash by morning and wake up cold.

 

Plus, you're off the ground, so the floor gets real cold.

 

Then there's pipes freezing- I had it set up where I ran some water line from the greenhouse into the bus- and the line would freeze. But with a self contained system that would probably not be a problem.

Edited by Severian, 11 January 2024 - 10:35 AM.

[btp]

You could definitely survive if you had enough wood- but it wouldn't be exactly comfortable.

 

 

The insulation in a vehicle is not enough, (unless you do a serious job of adding extra insulation) to combat the freezing temps.

 

Yeah, you can get a raging fire and be good for awhile- but that heat is gonna leak out real easy.  And finding a good balance between good fire and too hot is a bit challenging-

I suppose I was using collected firewood- so didn't have the advantage of cut cords of hardwood to manage the temperature as well as could be done- but would frequently get a good fire going and then have it turn to ash by morning and wake up cold.

 

Plus, you're off the ground, so the floor gets real cold.

 

Then there's pipes freezing- I had it set up where I ran some water line from the greenhouse into the bus- and the line would freeze. But with a self contained system that would probably not be a problem.

 

That's helpful, thank you. I'm out of "likes" otherwise I would have liked this. I was talking to a friend with a wood-burning stove in his trailer yesterday, and he spends a decent amount of his time just foraging for wood. Still, if that's all I had to do most of the day, for a week's retreat from the world, that might not be too bad.

 

The insulation part is noteworthy, thank you. Might not be a bad idea to just get medium-sized quantities of wood and keep it in the van ahead of time. Still planning this out in my head, but the feedback is helpful. The good, the bad, the ugly.

Edited by btp, 11 January 2024 - 10:43 AM.

[Juthro]

I got to meet this guy (Timmy) at a local grocery store (Three Bears).  He was a really down to earth good dude.  Anyway, I thought this video might be relevant to the discussion, and enjoyable for some.

 

[btp]

I got to meet this guy (Timmy) at a local grocery store (Three Bears).  He was a really down to earth good dude.  Anyway, I thought this video might be relevant to the discussion, and enjoyable for some.

 

That's a brilliant and creative setup. I like the fact that he was thoughtful enough to attach a bird feeder to his home. Inside looks cozy and soft. And homey.

Edited by btp, 12 January 2024 - 07:43 PM.

[Juthro]

Tim is really cool dude, my meeting with him was just random at the store, and my interaction with him was only a minute or two, but I came away with the feeling he was a good man.  Anyway, I try to give what little support I can by following him on U-tube.  It is an easy way to give love.

 

(edit: Syntax repair)

Edited by Juthro, 12 January 2024 - 08:36 PM.

[dead head jed]

one of my good friends did the #vanlife thing for almost 2 years during the pandemic. He has since settled down and relocated to Vermont. One of his friends had some land up there and he moved up this past summer. He was keen on building himself a little A frame, but ran out of time and just ended up buying a little but well built shed and retrofitting it with insulation and propane heat. Still has to walk 50ft through the snow to poop in a bucket, but has been enjoying his new spot so far. He was already used to being mindful of energy and water consumption so those were not new to him, and he was able to strip the Van of a lot of the stuff needed for the "cabin". Its entirely possible, it does require a good bit of planning and the upfront cost (if you want any sort of creature comforts) can be $$ , but for some folks it can be life changing. If you have any questions I can probably answer the basic ones, and reach out to him for anything that needs more detail. There are whole youtube channels of tinyhome and van life living that can help with concepts and planning.

[btp]

one of my good friends did the #vanlife thing for almost 2 years during the pandemic. He has since settled down and relocated to Vermont. One of his friends had some land up there and he moved up this past summer. He was keen on building himself a little A frame, but ran out of time and just ended up buying a little but well built shed and retrofitting it with insulation and propane heat. Still has to walk 50ft through the snow to poop in a bucket, but has been enjoying his new spot so far. He was already used to being mindful of energy and water consumption so those were not new to him, and he was able to strip the Van of a lot of the stuff needed for the "cabin". Its entirely possible, it does require a good bit of planning and the upfront cost (if you want any sort of creature comforts) can be $$ , but for some folks it can be life changing. If you have any questions I can probably answer the basic ones, and reach out to him for anything that needs more detail. There are whole youtube channels of tinyhome and van life living that can help with concepts and planning.

That's really helpful, thank you! As / if I get this project off the ground, I'll check in and ask you. Thank you; it's good to know this can be done. And funny thing is, I've been looking at land prices up in Maine and Vermont, too. It's flippin' beautiful up there.

[dead head jed]

it can certainly be done, just remember that even once you're off grid its a good idea to have at least a little bit of income coming in, even with a very well insulated spot and burning wood still need to buy food & fuel and cover costs in case you get hurt. When he was doing the van thing he still taught a few classes remotely to keep a few dollars rolling in. So picking up even a part time job will go a long way in keeping things sustainable

[Juthro]

Good to see you Jed :)  I hope you, and yours have been well.