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Living out of a non-westy van for 90 days.
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TheBlueTurtle
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:54 pm    Post subject: Living out of a non-westy van for 90 days. Reply with quote

My gf and i have decided to go to China for 6 months and teach english.

To help save money and make this a reality we are leaving our apartment and moving into our 85 van for 90 days. The savings on rent will more than pay for our plane tickets.

Luckily we have a sunroof so it shouldn't be too bad.

Does anyone have any advice or tips for long term camping/living out of a non-westy van ?

Ill have a cooler and camp stove inside, along with a few custom features like wall pouches near the bed and maybe a custom shelf/folding table unit.

any other idea or input?


thanks in advance.


tbt
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PDXWesty
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Counseling...
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campism
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Which one of us gets the van when you leave?
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whynotvw
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PDXWesty wrote:
Counseling...

Very Happy funny
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syncrodoka
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

3 months in a van with the GF and you won't want to go to a differnt country with her(or any place else) Laughing
Good luck with your trip.
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Mzwo
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PDXWesty wrote:
Counseling...


alcohol.
plenty thereof.
or, if you are so inclined, a regular supply of herbal remedies against general seriousness.
anything to alter your perception of reality, really ...

Wink

good luck!

Matt
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Texxxxx
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Put swivel bases on the two front seats. You will be amazed at how much it opens up the intereior.
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TheBlueTurtle
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow, so helpful.

we've already lived in it for one month in-between apartments about 2 years ago.
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TheBlueTurtle
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Texxxxx wrote:
Put swivel bases on the two front seats. You will be amazed at how much it opens up the intereior.
Cool
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TheBlueTurtle
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

campism wrote:
Which one of us gets the van when you leave?
Ill be storing my things inside it, and it, in a storage facility.
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noganav
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you have a safe place to park it at night, use the bathroom and so on?
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Gauche1968
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tornado insurance.

Just were to you intend to park this thing for 3 months?
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Muskrat
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

a gym membership for the showers.
rubbermade tubs for keeping organized.
battery powered led lights. glue magnets to the back of them and you can move them around.
12v fan for cooling and fresh air circulation.
a curtain behind the front seats as well as the rest of the van...skip the front window it says camping.
porta john or one of it's many alternatives...yellow nalgene bottle works well for men and there's a funnel deal you can get for your special lady friend.
scented handy wipes and waterless camp shampoo if you cant make it to the gym.
also a spray bottle with water heated on the stove to a comfortable level with a wash cloth will do wonders.
deck of cards.
basic camping stuff...utensils, cookware, dishes...
treat the van like a backpack and only pack the things you absolutely can't do without. after you find out how much room you have left, pack some things you'd really like to have leaving room for the things you didn't think of
everything else goes into storage or better yet to craigslist and ebay.
you'll be amazed how little you actually need to be happy.
thanks
-k-
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blakeck2
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Texxxxx wrote:
Put swivel bases on the two front seats. You will be amazed at how much it opens up the intereior.


x2
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Williamtaylor33
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Join the "VWVANFULLTIMERS" group on Yahoo. Alot of good advice for long term camping or living out of your van.
Bascially simplify, simplify, simplify.
Start thinking ahead for your stay in china. I doubt you'll be bringing much right? Just what you "need". You'll need that mindset to live in the van.
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TheBlueTurtle
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

noganav wrote:
Do you have a safe place to park it at night, use the bathroom and so on?


going to find a few good shaded areas to park, and we plan to use the nearby 24 hour fitness as our main bathroom for showers n what not... maybe we'll even use the gym to work out!
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TheBlueTurtle
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

grknvgn wrote:
a gym membership for the showers.
rubbermade tubs for keeping organized.
battery powered led lights. glue magnets to the back of them and you can move them around.
12v fan for cooling and fresh air circulation.
a curtain behind the front seats as well as the rest of the van...skip the front window it says camping.
porta john or one of it's many alternatives...yellow nalgene bottle works well for men and there's a funnel deal you can get for your special lady friend.
scented handy wipes and waterless camp shampoo if you cant make it to the gym.
also a spray bottle with water heated on the stove to a comfortable level with a wash cloth will do wonders.
deck of cards.
basic camping stuff...utensils, cookware, dishes...
treat the van like a backpack and only pack the things you absolutely can't do without. after you find out how much room you have left, pack some things you'd really like to have leaving room for the things you didn't think of
everything else goes into storage or better yet to craigslist and ebay.
you'll be amazed how little you actually need to be happy.
thanks
-k-


thanks, it looks like were on the right track then. Smile
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aquaboxa
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

An aux battery for lighting and entertainment when parked. I know the point is to save money here though...

Hijack: do swivel bases raise the hight of the seats and where can they be found?
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vwlovr
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


i made this very simple cabinet behind the passenger seat for this trip we did. the porta potty went on the bottom (a MUST have in my opinion) and it held a crate for storage and a 5 gallon water cooler on top. the cooler was great, fill it with ice let it melt for water, and keep drinks in it for cold juice/soda/beer. that way your other cooler can just be food.

if i was going to live in my GL, i would do the swivel seats, at least on the passenger side. and maybe do the potty behind the passenger seat in a box, like an ottoman. then do the water cooler behind the driver.

also when we did that trip i had just put in a new carpet kit, and with a 3yo and two big dogs i knew it would get destroyed with 3 weeks of camping. so i bought a cheap 6x6 rug from home depot, like $30 or something and put that in the rear area. when we were done it was trashed and it became a garage mat and my van's carpet was spotless.


Last edited by vwlovr on Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
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syncrodoka
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Hijack: do swivel bases raise the hight of the seats and where can they be found?
Yes.
http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=4757896
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