Living In Your Vehicle [Archive] - Professional Soldiers ®

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Peace Frog

12-02-2010, 06:37

Pete

12-02-2010, 07:05

Trooper Dan has an idea and it works for him.

Kinda' a free spirit right now. He does not need much stuff, sleeps in the truck and has a bike for in and about. Minimum wage goes straight to food. Put a little aside for gas and phone - he's good to go.

Security could be an issue when he's away from the truck - and he'll need to get somehting bigger when he gets a girlfriend.

1stindoor

12-02-2010, 08:03

mark46th

12-02-2010, 09:26

I always figured my retirement would be out of the back of my pick up on a beach in Baja. Then I got married...

Peace Frog

12-02-2010, 09:31

Many many years ago I did the same thing with one of my trucks, though not homeless, it was an ideal "campground" on wheels when taking roadtrips or extended fishing trips.

The problem is the lack of security and knowing that everything you have of value is in one central place at any given time.

Trooper Dan has an idea and it works for him.

Kinda' a free spirit right now. He does not need much stuff, sleeps in the truck and has a bike for in and about. Minimum wage goes straight to food. Put a little aside for gas and phone - he's good to go.

Security could be an issue when he's away from the truck - and he'll need to get somehting bigger when he gets a girlfriend.

Yes Sirs! I would be worried about my weapons,in fact I'd be worried about everything in my vehicle including the vehicle itself.So far both have been pretty lucky in that regard.Knowing my luck the first time I went to bathe in the ocean my vehicle would be gone!
Sure would be nice to "get away" from everything for awhile though!
I read later in Trooper Dan's thread that he built a cabin on his property in Ohio.No electricity or any modern comforts in the cabin though I believe he has a generator.
I envy people who do this!

Peace Frog

12-02-2010, 09:32

I always figured my retirement would be out of the back of my pick up on a beach in Baja. Then I got married...

Yeah that married part is holding me back also!

Buffalobob

12-02-2010, 10:22

Trooper Dan should contact me and get some lessons on how to rig a truck for survival. I can carry about another 15 cft over the cab if I wish.

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30853

He could also use some lessons on luxury living on public land rent free.

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30888

What I have done for gun security is to install some padlocks on the cap door. While the cap is not strong, a person has to be intent upon stealing to get to the guns.

perdurabo

12-02-2010, 11:49

Not sure if this goes here but I looked for a survival forum and didn't find one.
Here are two different people living out of their truck and or van.It is pretty neat to be able to do this for a extended period of time.Free from almost all worries of everyday peoples lives.I'd love to give it a shot one day and it would come in handy if SHTF.
Mods please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong forum.

First is Trooper Dan living in his truck
http://www.whenshtf.com/showthread.php?8419-Jobless-and-living-in-my-truck...-%28with-Pics%29

Next a female living out of her van.Also shes easy on the eyes!
http://www.faliaphotography.com/2010_10_01_archive.html

Thanks, I just wasted about an hour between Dan and Falia. Falia really has her s!*t together for not being at it for long. Dan has too much clutter, imho, but looks like he's doing well, too.

Very interesting reads, thanks for posting these, Peace Frog!

Bob Sir,

Please keeping posting your exploits. I like your writing style and enjoy the photos.

Santo Tomas

12-02-2010, 12:02

It's actually good to see some folks making due for themselves.

I just realized, well actually knew it but didn't want to, that we live in a world where we want/need/pay others to do our work.

My neighbor was going to pay $450 to have his Xmas lights put on his house.

That is until my PD friends showed up and asked for papers...........

ZonieDiver

12-02-2010, 14:25

I always figured my retirement would be out of the back of my pick up on a beach in Baja. Then I got married...

I think my retirement WILL be! (After a few WOOFer stops - goat farm in NM first, then a return to "Lodestar" in ShowLow...)

Next a female living out of her van.Also shes easy on the eyes!
http://www.faliaphotography.com/2010_10_01_archive.html

She is my kind of woman (younger version) - nice legs... and weapons!

wet dog

12-02-2010, 20:55

http://www.overlandvehicles.co/

or

http://www.sportsmobile.com/4_4x4sports.html

or

http://www.overlandjournal.com/

1stindoor

12-03-2010, 07:31

http://www.overlandvehicles.co/

or

http://www.sportsmobile.com/4_4x4sports.html

or

http://www.overlandjournal.com/

http://globalxvehicles.com/vehicles/...FUlN4AodiBUpmA - also this one
I'm thinking if you can afford any of those vehicles...you're homeless for a reason...and it ain't the economy.

perdurabo

12-03-2010, 11:15

I'm thinking if you can afford any of those vehicles...you're homeless for a reason...and it ain't the economy.

In Trooper Dan's case, he emphasized his "urban camouflage" approach. He wanted to blend in as much as possible. Those vehicles would probably be noticed parked in the 'hood.

Looks like Dan ended his vehicle experiment in the Keys and lives in a cabin on some property in Ohio:

http://www.whenshtf.com/showthread.php?34629-New-cabin-project-the-perfect-wilderness-retreat.

http://www.whenshtf.com/showthread.php?14488-The-off-grid-survival-cabin

You can click on his name and read just his posts (there's a lot of clutter and naysayers, viewing the raw thread).

I really respect him for doing his own thing, ignoring the naysayers, and not leeching from others.

1stindoor

12-03-2010, 12:17

Don't get me wrong...I get it. Like I said, I've lived the same lifestyle for short periods of time, mostly because I was too cheap to get a hotel room or didn't want to set up a tent.

I used to have a setup similar to this which was great on long roadtrips and fishing excursions.

I always kept a coleman stove, coffee pot, water, and canned food under the seats.

wet dog

12-03-2010, 12:27

I'm thinking if you can afford any of those vehicles...you're homeless for a reason...and it ain't the economy.

Never homeless, but many thought I might have been.

One season, I lived in a 55 international bus, with a wood buring stove, but I was a logger and went to town every few days for fresh food. On more than one occasion considered canned dog food vs. chicken soup, because it was on sale.

These vehicles are nice, but I'd take a string of good pack animals over a fueled vehicle anyday.

wet dog

12-03-2010, 12:39

In Trooper Dan's case, he emphasized his "urban camouflage" approach. He wanted to blend in as much as possible. Those vehicles would probably be noticed parked in the 'hood.

Looks like Dan ended his vehicle experiment in the Keys and lives in a cabin on some property in Ohio:

http://www.whenshtf.com/showthread.php?34629-New-cabin-project-the-perfect-wilderness-retreat.

http://www.whenshtf.com/showthread.php?14488-The-off-grid-survival-cabin

You can click on his name and read just his posts (there's a lot of clutter and naysayers, viewing the raw thread).

I really respect him for doing his own thing, ignoring the naysayers, and not leeching from others.

Every few years, someone, somewhere, does the same thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-American-Man-Elizabeth-Gilbert/dp/0142002836#reader_0142002836

A great book, easy readying. Conway left college, tramped around, then wilderness survived, then created a institution for teaching primative skills, (which lead him to organize and camp, village and culture, which was in contrast to escaping civilization in the first place).

In the end, Conway lived each period of the human experience.

Hunter,
Hunter/Gatherer,
Village organizer,
Warrior, (keeping village),
Politican, (law, codes, etc.),
Retirement.

Thought the same thing myself, but fatherhood was more important than "what I want". But the writer, Elizabeth Gilbert fails to indentify, "What is a man"?, which is why I like Jack's book, The Code, so much.

1stindoor

12-03-2010, 12:40

This story reminded me of the one I read a short while back about the temporary workers for Amazon dot com.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-11-26-amazon-temporary-workers_N.htm

perdurabo

12-03-2010, 12:56

Every few years, someone, somewhere, does the same thing.

And every time, I get suckered into following their progress with jealousy. Heck, I had my time in the Oregon woods for a month, and still get jealous.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-American-Man-Elizabeth-Gilbert/dp/0142002836#reader_0142002836

A great book, easy readying. Conway left college, tramped around, then wilderness survived, then created a institution for teaching primative skills, (which lead him to organize and camp, village and culture, which was in contrast to escaping civilization in the first place).

Fantastic! Just added it to my Amazon buying list. There are some pretty scathing reviews from people who claim to have worked for Conway on Amazon. Any thoughts on this?

Any more like this you can recommend?

Thought the same thing myself, but fatherhood...

Same here. I can't wait until my boys (and my girl?) get old enough for some good backpacking trips.

DJ Urbanovsky

12-03-2010, 13:19

I just read that book last month. It's an interesting tale.

Every few years, someone, somewhere, does the same thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-American-Man-Elizabeth-Gilbert/dp/0142002836#reader_0142002836

A great book, easy readying. Conway left college, tramped around, then wilderness survived, then created a institution for teaching primative skills, (which lead him to organize and camp, village and culture, which was in contrast to escaping civilization in the first place).

In the end, Conway lived each period of the human experience.

Hunter,
Hunter/Gatherer,
Village organizer,
Warrior, (keeping village),
Politican, (law, codes, etc.),
Retirement.

Thought the same thing myself, but fatherhood was more important than "what I want". But the writer, Elizabeth Gilbert fails to indentify, "What is a man"?, which is why I like Jack's book, The Code, so much.

wet dog

12-03-2010, 13:22

I just read that book last month. It's an interesting tale.

Interestingly enough to leave me feeling somewhat disappointed in Conway. What an experience to have lived, but he failed on so many levels, because, in the end, he was not mentored by, well, a man.

Nothing more than a self diagnosed Lab Rat, on the wrong meds., looking for cheese that's not there.

But that's just me.

drymartini66

12-03-2010, 14:29

This all reminds me of the movie Jeremiah Johnson.

The Reaper

12-03-2010, 14:40

Kin you skin griz?

TR

drymartini66

12-03-2010, 14:47

Kin you skin griz?

TR

Ride due west as the sun sets. Turn left at the Rocky Mountains.:munchin

drymartini66

12-03-2010, 14:49

Kin you skin griz?

TR

Skin that one, pilgrim and I'll get you another.

GratefulCitizen

12-03-2010, 16:18

This story reminded me of the one I read a short while back about the temporary workers for Amazon dot com.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-11-26-amazon-temporary-workers_N.htm

It's a common practice among our drivers to camp in an RV up on the Kaibab Nat'l Forest when running the Fredonia/North Rim route.
Get a nice day's work and get to be on vacation when you get "home".

Just park the truck right there at the camp site.
You get some strange looks when a UPS truck pulls out of the forest in the morning.
:D