Stealth RV/Van living and camping...

[Samvega]

I'm in the process of a 125 square foot RV build, I just finished installing 1,380 watts of solar on the roof, a 6,000 watt AGM battery bank, sine wave inverter, chest freezer, stock tank bath/shower, I've fabricated everything from scratch to keep it completely stealth. All of the interior is aluminum or hardwood and while the interior is going to have to be a work in progress and adaptive to my needs as I figure them out, I have my power system functional and I'm about as under the radar as you can get on this large of a scale. I will post a picture here or there but figured I would start the thread and see what others have done or are interested in doing. I'm planning to leave in the next week for a couple months and decide if full timing is a good fit for me.

Here's a photo from a couple days ago of the sunrise over the solar panels.

 

[ceecee]

While I get off the grid living, you're describing this as stealth. Is there a reason for all the covertness?

 

[Ghost]

While I get off the grid living, you're describing this as stealth. Is there a reason for all the covertness?

I think it's so you have more options for parking and you're less likely to get hassled. (Random blog post.)

RVs aren't allowed in some places. Cities may have ordinances against parking overnight, and RVs stand out. Sucks if you're full-timing. I've heard of people doing the stealth van thing while having a regular job. Commuting from outside the city seems like a waste of time and gas when your home can fit in a parking space.

While I doubt stealth camping is for me, I like the idea of designing my own interior for an RV. The people who design them tend to have an abysmal sense of taste. An the exterior paint jobs are hideous, too. Trying to maximize every inch of space would be fun, like solving a puzzle.

I love the idea of a roof deck—not skoolie style, something nicer looking and safer. I picture parking on an overlook, sitting on the roof deck with a cup of tea and enjoying the view.

 

[kyuuei]

Let me know how this works out for ya!
[MENTION=18763]Ghost[/MENTION] I agree on the RVs being awful design wise. It's just not acceptable with how much technology and potential they have now-a-days for them to be stuck in the dark ages.

Deciding to Make a Trailer My Home

I really loved this place, this girl used ikea to basically turn a really run down trailer into a very modern, nice home over the years.

 

[five sounds]

awesome! good luck.

take me with you

 

[Qlip]

Awesome! If I didn't have responsibilities, I would've dropped out a long time ago...

 

[Samvega]

The issue with newer units is they're either built well and $500,000 diesel pusher class a motorhomes or they're built like crap, have a rubber (well, EMPD) roof, leak, rot, look like crap, are made of toxic chemicals and really aren't fit for human consumption. You can get a heck of a deal these days on 20 year old high end class a units but really, they just don't fit my needs... at all. I need easy to work on, off the shelve parts, I want to know how the entire system works and functions, I don't want to be scratching my head wondering why this is there or making compromises for things I don't want.

Here's a photo of my engine and transmission, hard to get any easier to fix. I could very honestly almost replace the serpentine belt myself from inside if it were raining, there is nothing but room!

 

[93JC]

What the heck is this thing based on, a stepvan?

 

[Samvega]

What the heck is this thing based on, a stepvan?

Si! I said stealth! It's an old bread truck, I can hide it in or behind any grocery store in the country and sleep if need be.

 

[93JC]

Looks like it's got a Ford engine, so i'm guessing it's a Utilimaster.

 

[Samvega]

Looks like it's got a Ford engine, so i'm guessing it's a Utilimaster.

Utilimaster used the P-30 Chevy chassis so it's a 350 in there.

 

[93JC]

Utilimaster used the P-30 Chevy chassis so it's a 350 in there.

Did you remove the distributor? Chevy V8s have them at the back. I figured it was a Ford because it looks like the plug wires are coming from the front.

 

[Samvega]

Did you remove the distributor? Chevy V8s have them at the back. I figured it was a Ford because it looks like the plug wires are coming from the front.

You can see the cap at the back (in the middle) of the motor, it's flat with the 8 plug wires coming out.

 

[Opal]

My god, you are living my dream.

 

[93JC]

You can see the cap at the back (in the middle) of the motor, it's flat with the 8 plug wires coming out.

Hmm, I can't see it.

Oh well, don't mind me, I was just being cheeky. Have fun renovating it.

 

[Samvega]

My god, you are living my dream.

It's scary as shit and I haven't even jumped off the edge of the cliff...yet but plan to this week. It's super hard to push out of your comfort zone with something like this for sure. What has stopped you from doing it?

 

[Opal]

It's scary as shit and I haven't even jumped off the edge of the cliff...yet but plan to this week. It's super hard to push out of your comfort zone with something like this for sure. What has stopped you from doing it?

Lack of finances and mechanical knowledge, mostly. Substituting a 24-hour Fitness pass for a built-in shower might make a similar lifestyle more feasible for me.

 

[Mole]

I lived out of my volkswagon, but I was careful where I lived.

I parked and lived on the University campus, surrounded by all the physical facilities for free, with social facilities for free, educational facilities for free, sporting facilities for almost free, many different clubs and societies on campus, and I even had a girlfriend.

I took part in campus activities and was made a Life Member of the Student's Union.

I could have tried to be self sufficient, but instead I plonked myself in the middle of llfe, and reaped the benefits.