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Originally Posted by cornercarver
I'm especially curious to know about the things that folks commonly get and then find that they don't use.
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- The biggest thing I would not get again is an uncomfortable bed. Most of the van conversion seat/beds have steel frames with springs. When they fold down they have cracks and hard spots, which are located under your hips and shoulders (seems like). There is an entire thread on this forum about what kind of extra padding to put on top of the bed!! Our next build will have a solid platform with RV mattress(es).
-Never used the microwave
-Almost never used the RV air conditioner, however we camp mainly in cooler areas
-Did not use the hot water system in the winter on short trips, because of the hassle of draining/filling
-Never used an inverter. However we didn't have computers and that could change things.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornercarver
A lot of folks seem to do away with the propane system. What sacrifices does that entail and what are the benefits?
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-The main reason for the propane system is to have a forced air furnace. One of the main advantages of the camper van is being comfortable camping or even day-tripping year-around. The portable or catalytic heaters are inconvenient, unsafe, and grossly underpowered for us.
-We like the convenience of an instant-on stove, no set-up required.
-We also like the propane refrigerator, since we almost never camp with a hook-up. It will run several days, is super quiet, and doesn't put heat into the camper.
- The propane tank seems vulnerable to rock hits, and the piping needs to be inspected regularly to make sure there are no leaks. The burners in the refrigerator and furnace need to be kept clean and serviced.
- The biggest disadvantage to propane is finding propane and filling the tank. It can add a half hour to a fueling stop, and can be hard to find in small towns.
- I think the cost of a propane system and furnace is about the same as the cost of an Espar heater (gasoline or diesel).
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornercarver
Shower and toilet seem necessary.
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Try to be realistic about where you will camp. It is a nice fantasy to imagine staying out in the boondocks for long periods of time, but many nights may be spent closer to plumbing.
- When we had a shower we only used it a couple times and ended up converting it into storage space. It is very nice to have but just uses too much water. For every gallon of fresh water you need a gallon of grey water storage... and you need to get rid of it.
- We like the porta-pottie for all the reasons mentioned above. Many of the places we camp have outhouses.
- If a flushing toilet is used, the black water tank needs to be dumped after every trip (ask me how I know). Grey water too if storing grey water. We found this operation to be the least enjoyable part of our trip. It always occurs on the last day, we're ready to be home - but need to stop and deal with sewage first! And dump stations may not be conveniently located.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornercarver
I work as a composer, so if I can set up a rudimentary studio (laptop, desk+keyboard, integration with audio system (or separate built-in audio) and speakers placed to left and right of desk at head height, that would make it possible for me to work from the van for pretty much indefinite length trips. That's the fantasy, for sure.
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I found the passenger seat, swivelled around, to be the most comfortable seat for hanging out.
I do construction management in remote locations, and have thought about having a mobile office in a camper van. However I have decided that if I need a mobile office it will be in a trailer. The trailer could have a generator or solar, office space, additional storage, etc. It could be chained to a tree at a base camp or RV park. That would leave the van free for day trips.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornercarver
Financing. I certainly don't have 80-100K just sitting around in cash for purchasing a sportsmobile straight up, even assuming I could get a custom 4x4 build for that kind of money.
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One way to reduce the cost of ownership is to use the van as a daily driver. That has the drawback of depreciating the RV portion of the van faster.
If you have equity in your house, second mortgages are going cheap right now. Ours is 3.5% and tax deductible.
I agree taking out a big loan on an RV is frightening, especially if you don't end up using it a lot. It really sucks to pay out big $$ per month and have the rig sitting there staring at you.
It might be prudent to buy a well-used van to start with, and see how the camping thing works out. You will also find out if you need 4WD.