Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kusanagi on August 28, 2010, 12:45:23 am
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After some discussion in the IRC, I ended up deciding to make a topic that could be interesting :pimp:
For the last year and a half, I have lived in my van. Feel free to ask me anything and I'll be open and honest about the experience. :D
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is your van down by the river as well?
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Nah, the beach mostly ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/new%20van%20pics/DSC01272.jpg)
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Which country/state/province do you live in?
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what sort of Internet service do you use?
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Which country/state/province do you live in?
I live in the San Diego area in California, and travel to Los Angeles a lot. Have yet to go on my first cross country trip as all my friends and family are here.
what sort of Internet service do you use?
I used to pay for mobile broadband but for only 5gigs a month for $40 it was too little for all the video editing and stuff I do. So I instead got this:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/new%20van%20pics/DSC01274.jpg)
It's a high gain wireless antenna that runs inside the van to my laptop, and allows me to pull signal from wifi hotspots. That's what I'm doing right now actually. There's a McDonalds across the street that I'm connected to.
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Ho do you keep the beer cold?
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Are those solar panels on your roof?
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Do you have a time machine under the seat?
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Ho do you keep the beer cold?
Got a fridge inside, but it uses alot of power so I only keep it on when driving so the alternator powers the inverter.
Are those solar panels on your roof?
Yep! Built em myself, 200 watts. Work beautifully and produce all the power I need.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/Solar%20Panels/solar1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/Solar%20Panels/solar5.jpg)
And the interior:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/New%20interior/DSC01741.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/New%20interior/DSC01722.jpg)
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Hail fellow Californian! Hot enough for ya?
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was this out of necessity or just for the hell of it?
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Hail fellow Californian! Hot enough for ya?
Oh god, this is my second summer in the van and it's hot as hell. Fortunately this year I have the air conditioner when I can park somewhere with electricity, and the roof vent fan.
was this out of necessity or just for the hell of it?
Necessity. The house myself and a few friends were living in got foreclosed on without the landlord telling us. We didn't know until the bank came and said we needed to get out in about two weeks. I was the only one out of the four of us who didn't move back in with parents.
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There appears to be a dent on your van's bonnet. How did that get there?
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Judging from teh shape and location, a hammer from someone who thought it'd be funneh...
On a slightly more serious note, where do you bathe...
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If you had the choice, would you keep living in the van or go back to a normal house?
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How do you get mail without a fixed address? POBox?
A friend of mine lives in a longboat and he had a POBox, but sometimes uses my address because some places won't accept POBoxes...
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If you had the option, would you switch living in the van to living on a boat?
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Do parents freak out when you drive that thing by a play ground?
On a not so stupid note, if you don't mind what's a rough idea of your expenses? I would assume they a considerably cheaper then you where renting the house?
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Quick suggestion on a paint job if you ever decide to re-paint it:
(http://i37.tinypic.com/p0x8k.jpg)
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How well does it handle the cold? I can't imagine vans come very well-insulated, which could make for some chilly nights...
Then again, you are in Cali. :)
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Are you offended by Top Gear?
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how did you get your van, i would love to live in a van. of course the chances of me ever being able to afford a van are about nil. of course id have to park mine by a river, as a matter of principal.
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You can't afford a cheap old van? You can usually get one from between $500 and $2500 on Craigslist or in used car lots.
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There appears to be a dent on your van's bonnet. How did that get there?
An 18 wheeler backed into me. Woke me up out of a sound sleep and scared the hell outta me.
Judging from teh shape and location, a hammer from someone who thought it'd be funneh...
On a slightly more serious note, where do you bathe...
I have a gym membership to 24 hour fitness, so anywhere there's one, I can go work out/shave/shower.
If you had the choice, would you keep living in the van or go back to a normal house?
A year and a half ago, I would have said yes without question. But living like this, having this minimalist lifestyle, has done wonders for my stress level and health. Part of me sees a large house as just a place to pay to keep your stuff. Over the last 18 months, the van feels like home. I wouldn't mind converting a bigger van, a uhaul truck, or even a school bus.
How do you get mail without a fixed address? POBox?
A friend of mine lives in a longboat and he had a POBox, but sometimes uses my address because some places won't accept POBoxes...
My grandparents let me use their address for mail.
If you had the option, would you switch living in the van to living on a boat?
I don't think so. I enjoy being able to go all over the place in the van. If the boat was a double masted sailboat then perhaps :P
Do parents freak out when you drive that thing by a play ground?
On a not so stupid note, if you don't mind what's a rough idea of your expenses? I would assume they a considerably cheaper then you where renting the house?
I'm smart enough to avoid schools and areas with children. My van screams "child molester" to the same people that believe Reefer Madness. I've actually been parked cooking several times and some well meaning citizen that can't mind their own business has called the cops stating that there was a bomb threat (twice) or that someone was cooking meth in a portable lab (once). Fortunately once cops see the inside of the van they tend to be cool.
Expenses are pretty straightforward.
$40 a month for insurance
$40 cellphone
$40 gym membership
$150-200 a month for food
$240ish a month for gas (only get 12mpg)
I make my own power and get my internet for free.
There may be a few things I'm forgetting but the rest is going to paying off debt and putting into savings. So around $550 a month I'd say?
How well does it handle the cold? I can't imagine vans come very well-insulated, which could make for some chilly nights...
Then again, you are in Cali. :)
Part of being in Cali. When it gets chilly I have alot of blankets, or when I'm plugged in, I have a space heater.
Are you offended by Top Gear?
Only sometimes.
how did you get your van, i would love to live in a van. of course the chances of me ever being able to afford a van are about nil. of course id have to park mine by a river, as a matter of principal.
Lucked out, found it at a donation yard for $800 in perfect mechanical condition.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/New%20interior/DSC01736.jpg)
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how teh eff do you have sex in there? one at a time?
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This is pretty impressive. You have furnished the van nicely on the inside. I wouldn't ever do this myself, but I can see your point about the advantages of such a lifestyle.
Is that double door on the side or the back of the van? It looks more roomy inside than I would have thought from the first picture.
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At your current rate, how long before you are debt free? Then, what are you saving for and how long will it take to reach your goal?
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Wow, I like your van. If I had the skills needed to convert one, I think I'd like to try it.
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Do you just hold down a normal job and park your "house" in front?
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You notice how he skipped the time machine under the seat question :pimp:
So do you automatically get the having your home and auto insurance with the same company deduction?
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Would you consider renting out to Scooby and the gang?
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Would you consider renting out to Scooby and the gang?
Too many ppl into that gig already
http://www.facebook.com/spirelimo#!/album.php?aid=2015982&id=1592599929
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wow that crazy!
I think I want one myself :D
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This is pretty impressive. You have furnished the van nicely on the inside. I wouldn't ever do this myself, but I can see your point about the advantages of such a lifestyle.
Is that double door on the side or the back of the van? It looks more roomy inside than I would have thought from the first picture.
The van has double doors on both the side (barn style doors) and in the back where the bed is.
At your current rate, how long before you are debt free? Then, what are you saving for and how long will it take to reach your goal?
Still gonna be a while, the folly of trying to go into business by myself a few years ago. Ugh. I'm actually saving for a backpacking trip around the world. I've downsized from a house to an apartment to a room to a van, a backpack isn't too much harder.
Do you just hold down a normal job and park your "house" in front?
All I do right now is freelance work, unfortunately. But the times I have held a stable job, I don't park on the property. I go to various safe places.
You notice how he skipped the time machine under the seat question :pimp:
So do you automatically get the having your home and auto insurance with the same company deduction?
Hah! I wish.
Would you consider renting out to Scooby and the gang?
I rent it out to Mr. T on the weekends.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/New%20interior/DSC01762.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/New%20interior/DSC01731.jpg)
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Man hope you don't smoke in bed with that gas can under it.
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It's amazing what you've done to it... We need to get you a Winnebago-sized vehicle to see what you can do with that!
(Eagle V! :lol: )
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does it have a lavatory?
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If so, how much fun is handling your ****?
(okay sorry)
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This is really awesome. :) I don't think I could ever handle that lifestyle myself (I have way too much clutter, for one :p), but I'm glad it's been working out for you.
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Man hope you don't smoke in bed with that gas can under it.
I don't smoke except a hookah once in a while with friends :D
does it have a lavatory?
Nope. No room for that.If so, how much fun is handling your ****?
(okay sorry)
It's a legitimate question and one I get asked a lot. I go to the bathroom when I can, not so much when I have to. If I go to an internet cafe, a starbucks, the gym, etc, I always use the bathroom. This keeps me from having an emergency in the middle of the night.
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I paid $11k for this year's dorm at SDSU, but you have the same amount of living space in a ****ing van.
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truth.
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How badly has this destroyed your romantic prospects? :P
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Why live in your van?
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Why live in your van?
His situation is golden. That's why
You have like a glory hole in that van?
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Why live in your van?
**** happens. He is simply rolling with the punches and sounding like he's enjoying it to a degree.
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How badly has this destroyed your romantic prospects? :P
Not bad. I have a girlfriend. She thinks it's awesome to go camping on a whim and take all the comforts of home.
Why live in your van?
It was either this, or couchsurf. This way, I'm not being a bum, I'm not mooching off of anyone, I'm independent, and as a joke, I own my house and have no mortgage! :P
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Do you have a PO box?
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You know you should write an instruction guide and sell it in China, I'm sure it would sell well (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11062708).
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As far as internet goes, are private residences off-limits as far as leeching goes?
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As far as internet goes, are private residences off-limits as far as leeching goes?
I don't really park in residential neighborhoods, but if my antenna picks up an unsecured network with the names linksys, dlink, or netgear, I have no qualms about getting online to check email or do a little surfing. The only place this really applies is when I park down at the beach. There are a few networks like that I can pick up, but the majority of them come from businesses who never bothered to secure their routers.
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This is pretty sweet. I could see wanting to attempt this myself if/when job/apartment situations went bad. :yes:
How tall are you? and or how long is the bed?
How long can you use a TV/console at night (if not on external power)?
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How long can you use a TV/console at night (if not on external power)?
Possible way for that to work is have the solar panels charge some batteries during the day, then run the electronics off battery power at night. That's how I would do it.
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Backlash, you'd be surprised that a car battery can let you watch a 26" crt tv(if that's all your doing with the battery at one time).
Might i recommend aircrack-ng (http://www.aircrack-ng.org/). Aside from the point that you can use it to crack wep and if you have a good dictionary then wpa/wpa2 non enterprise. You can use the program to put your wireless card into monitor mode which will show you absolutely everything about wireless going through the air at your given location.
You'll see hidden networks, ssid's, people connected to said networks, what kind of security is used. I'm not advocating cracking someones wireless security. I'm advocating knowing a little more about the wireless networks you connect too, and the hidden ones you may not know about that don't use security.
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Do you have a PO box?
Use my grandparents house for mail.
This is pretty sweet. I could see wanting to attempt this myself if/when job/apartment situations went bad. :yes:
How tall are you? and or how long is the bed?
How long can you use a TV/console at night (if not on external power)?
I'm 6'2, the bed is a little shorter so I angle across it.
The power in the van is supplied by two RV deep cycle batteries (I have about three times the storage capacity of commercial RVs) and a 1500 watt inverter. The solar panels and the alternator charge them when driving or parked somewhere. I can use the TV/Console for a few hours at night if I want to, but it does use more power than the panels put in, so I try not to use it all the time. But watching some free TV is awesome, and I can hook the laptop up to it.
Backlash, you'd be surprised that a car battery can let you watch a 26" crt tv(if that's all your doing with the battery at one time).
Might i recommend aircrack-ng (http://www.aircrack-ng.org/). Aside from the point that you can use it to crack wep and if you have a good dictionary then wpa/wpa2 non enterprise. You can use the program to put your wireless card into monitor mode which will show you absolutely everything about wireless going through the air at your given location.
You'll see hidden networks, ssid's, people connected to said networks, what kind of security is used. I'm not advocating cracking someones wireless security. I'm advocating knowing a little more about the wireless networks you connect too, and the hidden ones you may not know about that don't use security.
I looked into it, and besides the legality issues (I don't have any qualms using an unsecured connection but actively cracking one is a bit more than that) aircrack doesn't support the card in my laptop or my external USB one :(
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Do you worry about getting a DUI if you have a few beers and sleep in your van? Not sure about the laws out there but every state around here considered having your keys in your possession and being in your vehicle a DUI offense.
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i'd say the chances of a cop checking to see if a parked van has someone in it who may have been drinking are pretty low.
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You would be surprised. All you have to do is walk out of a bar, get into the vehicle and not leave the parking lot. Cop is watching the bar lot and figures your drunk and bang DUI.
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I looked into it, and besides the legality issues (I don't have any qualms using an unsecured connection but actively cracking one is a bit more than that) aircrack doesn't support the card in my laptop or my external USB one :(
I don't see any legality issues as long as you don't crack someone else's security. Putting your wireless card into monitor mode is definitely not a legal issue. On the other hand, sucky it doesn't support your wireless cards; it's a fun and handy piece of software.
FUBAR-BDHR is quite correct by the way about the getting a dui from simply leaving the bar and getting in your car and not go anywhere to get a dui. Happens all the time here in alaska, it's a little ****ed. Least to say, don't drive to bars, and keep your drinking on the down low in your van i guess.
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alaska has some wierd liquor laws. in az i could go to walmart and get my whiskey and cola on the same aisle. here in petersburg i cant even get booze and non-booze from the same building. some of the bigger towns, like juneau, have the liquor stores in the same building, but separated from each other so you have to check out twice. not sure how many states are like that (maybe az is the oddball).
i figure the way around the dui is to give the keys to the bartender (maybe have them unlock your van for you), go to your van, and sleep it off. id have a hard time seeing how a dui would hold up in court if you didnt have access to your car keys when they caught you in your van completely plastered. since youre parked right there, you can pick up your keys later the next day. remember what the d stands for, so if you give the cops no indication that your planning to drive, like sitting in the drivers seat or fumbling with your keys, then they probably wouldn't bother with you. they might ask you a few questions and look around abit, and if they dont find your keys on you they probably would just let you off with a warning.
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Do you worry about getting a DUI if you have a few beers and sleep in your van? Not sure about the laws out there but every state around here considered having your keys in your possession and being in your vehicle a DUI offense.
The DUI laws out here depend on the cop. Basically, they can charge you with DUI if they suspect intent to drive. If you're passed out in the drivers seat with the keys in the ignition, the cop can determine that you intended to drive. If your keys are in your pocket and you're in the backseat however, it's difficult to prove and unless the cop is being a jackass should have no problem with you sleeping it off. I've never had the issue relating to a DUI specifically but given the bed is in the back and I would have the keys on the desk by it, it would be very hard to argue that I was going anywhere.
i'd say the chances of a cop checking to see if a parked van has someone in it who may have been drinking are pretty low.
They are alot higher than you think. I get "investigated" by the cops once or twice a month, either because I parked somewhere new or because they just want to check it out. Never gotten fined or arrested. Most police see that I live in the vehicle, and since it's set up so nicely, determine that I'm not causing trouble and just trying to blend in. I try to be stealthy. More than one has asked for a tour when I open the doors and crawl out.I looked into it, and besides the legality issues (I don't have any qualms using an unsecured connection but actively cracking one is a bit more than that) aircrack doesn't support the card in my laptop or my external USB one :(
I don't see any legality issues as long as you don't crack someone else's security. Putting your wireless card into monitor mode is definitely not a legal issue. On the other hand, sucky it doesn't support your wireless cards; it's a fun and handy piece of software.
FUBAR-BDHR is quite correct by the way about the getting a dui from simply leaving the bar and getting in your car and not go anywhere to get a dui. Happens all the time here in alaska, it's a little ****ed. Least to say, don't drive to bars, and keep your drinking on the down low in your van i guess.
Well what else is there to do in Alaska? :P
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Well what else is there to do in Alaska? :P
hunting, fishing, boating, snowboarding, lots of places to fly rc aircraft, screwing native women, the list goes on and on.
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alaska has some wierd liquor laws. in az i could go to walmart and get my whiskey and cola on the same aisle. here in petersburg i cant even get booze and non-booze from the same building. some of the bigger towns, like juneau, have the liquor stores in the same building, but separated from each other so you have to check out twice. not sure how many states are like that (maybe az is the oddball).
In Pennsylvania, for whatever reason, private retailers can't even sell hard liquor; you have to go to a state-run "wine and spirits shop" to get your fill. The state is attempting some experimental wine-selling locations in supermarkets, though, and I think individual wineries can sell their own products on-site.
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Well what else is there to do in Alaska? :P
With a 7 month winter, it can get dark, cold, and boring real fast. So i carry on my normal summer activities on into winter. Bike riding, potato guns, walking for miles on end, blowing stuff up, going to the bar, etc. Winter depression hits for a lot of people because of the constant dark during winter. So i try not to change my habits much from summer aside from wearing a warm hat, hoodie, and gloves. Then go home to a nice brightly lit room. It keeps me sane for the winter. The majority of winter is spent outside doing a lot of weird activities with my friends.
As far as my drinking rules that i practice and try to get other people to practice. Plebians claim to not understand them (they just have a hard time pointing themselves in the direction of thought B after reason A). Then again, that was the stupid girl that liked me that drove to the bar, drank 8 beers, and drove home after she claimed i was trying to control her when i told her it's not a good idea to drive drunk (now expressing for worrying about someones well being equals control...so does stating the obvious) :lol:
Don't drink far from home, don't drive to bars, drink responsibly, don't do any drugs while drinking, don't drink too much. And my own rule for me being, don't hook up at bars :nod: Tired of picking up alcoholics, women with kids, or people with problems (you don't date someone to manage and help fix their problems, that's called rehab). Going to the bar is now just to hang out and make friends with people i don't know and have fun.
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down here in the southeast, our winters aren't as severe, and i wish we would get more snow than rain, but we dont. you just dont want to go outside as much. i dont change my wardrobe much, i just wear a heavy leather jacket, which is somewhat waterproof, on top of what i usually wear in the summer. my sister's family usually heads to juneau to work for the winter, so theres not a whole lot i do here. i kind of live off the government so i dont work at all. i just put more time into projects during the winter, and watch more tv. when they get back in the spring its back to romping around the woods with guns and explosives, or on the boat with fishing poles and crab pots (and sometimes vise versa).
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Heat waves suck.
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I learned today that deep cycle batteries only last for about 18 months under continuous use. Oy.
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my sister and the rest of the inlaws, who live in the bush, use 2 forklift batteries on an inverter for nighttime power, and go with a diesel generator during the day. its a pretty badass setup. of course all the hardware is way too big for a van.
i wonder how well a lithium polymer array would work. i got an 11.1v battery (same ones you use on hobby grade rc vehicles) you can draw 15 (20 theoretically) amps from, and you can get higher voltage and higher discharge batteries. about 10 of those in parallel might be able to run your inverter. of course the complexity of charging lithium polymer batteries might make the whole setup difficult to use. each battery is 3 3.7v cells in series, which have to be balanced to the same charge level. might be better to isolate the cells into parallel banks of 10 running 3 of those in series. might also have to boost the voltage from 11.1 to 12 if your inverter is anal about its input voltage. might be better to go with 4 cell batteries (14.8v) and use a switched mode voltage regulator to drop it to 12. this means you could draw slightly more current than the battery rating, since the batteries are being switched on and off there is a cool down period between the hot state, still have a fan bank keep the batteries cold when the inverter is on.
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tbh mate I think you deserve a HLP Legend badge or something for not only surviving in the van but seemingly doing quite well out of it
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This is fun now. Discussing ways to go off of the grid. Me and my room mate toss the idea around all the time for thought process and plausibility.
The first idea was to have a bunch of car batteries you charge by peddling a bike. Then that turned into getting a dog to run on a big wheel to do the same thing. Obviously not plausible.
The best thing we came up with for going off of the grid for power was utilizing a diesel or gasoline powered generator. A good way to get that is right in an automobile. You're battery gets charged all the time when you drive. We made a little plan to hook up the volkswagon that gets 30mpg to the house. Need to recharge the batteries, leave the car in neutral and have it automatically start when power is too low (silenoid switch i guess), and have the car rev the gas peddle until adequate charge is built back up (some mechanization required for that).
Up here in alaska, you're paying for petroleum to give you electricity through the grid (horrible, but i want power). Paying for gas in your car with a high mpg should cost about the same if not be cheaper. But, in the end, it would be a lot cheaper since you can just turn off the power when you go to bed. Lastly, the vehicle being the generator doesn't need to be insured since you don't drive it anywhere.
This situation i describe is only good if you have a house and you don't use that much power anyway, along with being electricity efficient also. 3 light bulbs light up the place just fine, a laptop and 2 desktop computers. And that's how i have the $33 a month electric bill. There's ways to make this place more efficient too on electricity and heat too that are going to happen next.
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I think S-99 that you will find that the grid is annoying as hell yes, but also far more efficient than a single high MPG car hooked to a gennie.
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This is fun now. Discussing ways to go off of the grid. Me and my room mate toss the idea around all the time for thought process and plausibility.
The first idea was to have a bunch of car batteries you charge by peddling a bike. Then that turned into getting a dog to run on a big wheel to do the same thing. Obviously not plausible.
The best thing we came up with for going off of the grid for power was utilizing a diesel or gasoline powered generator. A good way to get that is right in an automobile. You're battery gets charged all the time when you drive. We made a little plan to hook up the volkswagon that gets 30mpg to the house. Need to recharge the batteries, leave the car in neutral and have it automatically start when power is too low (silenoid switch i guess), and have the car rev the gas peddle until adequate charge is built back up (some mechanization required for that).
Up here in alaska, you're paying for petroleum to give you electricity through the grid (horrible, but i want power). Paying for gas in your car with a high mpg should cost about the same if not be cheaper. But, in the end, it would be a lot cheaper since you can just turn off the power when you go to bed. Lastly, the vehicle being the generator doesn't need to be insured since you don't drive it anywhere.
This situation i describe is only good if you have a house and you don't use that much power anyway, along with being electricity efficient also. 3 light bulbs light up the place just fine, a laptop and 2 desktop computers. And that's how i have the $33 a month electric bill. There's ways to make this place more efficient too on electricity and heat too that are going to happen next.
you're power plants use petroleum? that far up north makes sense, but down here in the south east, i think we get our power through hydroelectric. i know anchorage does too. back when i lived in juneau and we had that avalanche, the whole town was on diesel power, and the electric bills went up 300%. and we had electric heat back then, so our bill was like $150 for a month or two. it was not fun.
i think a good diesel generator and a battery bank is an ok way to go. for lights id use led arrays instead of cf. one disadvantage of led lighting is there is no diffusion when using leds directly. i figure you could use curved mirrors and frosted glass to help diffuse the light and make it more useful. you can get leds of psychotic brightness (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8202), but if you exceed the power levels of cf then you might as well just use cf. if you live near a stream with somewhat of a slope or a natural reservoir you could probably do hydroelectric power. siphon off water from upstream to fill a tank downstream, which goes through a turbine and back out to the stream. this method could run 24 hours a day, and keep batteries charged during all but heavy use. id keep a small generator around in case you needed more power though.
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one of the design teams my year here designed a nearly completely passive 6 MW nuclear reactor for small alaskan towns that can just be dropped in the ground and supply heat. doesn't do electricity unfortunately, but i imagine heating is the majority of the utility costs anyway. if memory serves the break even time is 10 years, and the actual reactor lifetime is 20.
and nuke, the majority of power in the southeast comes from coal plants. we're at about 20-30% nuclear, 50-60% coal, and the rest is a smattering of hydro and other stuff.
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He meant southeast Alaska, mang.
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my sister and the rest of the inlaws, who live in the bush, use 2 forklift batteries on an inverter for nighttime power, and go with a diesel generator during the day. its a pretty badass setup. of course all the hardware is way too big for a van.
i wonder how well a lithium polymer array would work. i got an 11.1v battery (same ones you use on hobby grade rc vehicles) you can draw 15 (20 theoretically) amps from, and you can get higher voltage and higher discharge batteries. about 10 of those in parallel might be able to run your inverter. of course the complexity of charging lithium polymer batteries might make the whole setup difficult to use. each battery is 3 3.7v cells in series, which have to be balanced to the same charge level. might be better to isolate the cells into parallel banks of 10 running 3 of those in series. might also have to boost the voltage from 11.1 to 12 if your inverter is anal about its input voltage. might be better to go with 4 cell batteries (14.8v) and use a switched mode voltage regulator to drop it to 12. this means you could draw slightly more current than the battery rating, since the batteries are being switched on and off there is a cool down period between the hot state, still have a fan bank keep the batteries cold when the inverter is on.
I did a lot of research into the electrical system before deciding on what I wanted. Most off grid applications will either wire 12 volt batteries together in series, or 6 volt batteries in parallel. I decided to go with two big group-29 12 volt wet cell batteries with 125 amp hours of storage each for a total of 250. For comparison, most commercial RVs have less than 100, but compliment that with a generator or a gigantic land yacht that never leaves a concrete pad. Not me! I had read and heard that these batteries would last a few years, but I'm now finding out that the batteries don't last that long under continuous use. Considering that almost nobody full-times in their RV, it's rather obvious in retrospect.
At any rate, I have a huge battery isolator I purchased for $15 that connects those batteries to my starting one so the batteries charge while I'm driving (and I can power the fridge to keep drinks cold :pimp: )
I don't have space or need for a generator, with the solar panels on the roof. I still try to be sparing with my power however, as I use a lot of it.
Riding a bike to turn an alternator and charge batteries isn't practical for anything but bare bones off the grid applications. I can drive for an hour or so and it will only charge enough to run the laptop for several at the most.
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He meant southeast Alaska, mang.
When did he go back to Alaska?
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like a year and a half ago.
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Why?
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Do you drive around other areas than just San Diego County? You could drive to 49 states in one trip (the fiftieth you'd have to get out of the van).
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Alright, next step then: amphibious van :p
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*Reads Kusanagi's signature*
Do you have a PS2 in your van? :)
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Alright, next step then: amphibious van :p
like this?
(http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/LAND_AAV7s_Come_Ashore_Somalia_lg.jpg)
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So, which baseball team are you rooting for, the Angels, Dodgers, or Padres?
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Why?
the insane require no explanations for their actions
Alright, next step then: amphibious van :p
like this?
(http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/LAND_AAV7s_Come_Ashore_Somalia_lg.jpg)
i should get me one of those, then i could take my van with me when i visit my sister.
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Do you drive around other areas than just San Diego County? You could drive to 49 states in one trip (the fiftieth you'd have to get out of the van).
LA and orange county quite a bit. I still need to make a long trip :P*Reads Kusanagi's signature*
Do you have a PS2 in your van? :)
How'd ya guess? :P
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Ok, another question for van guy. When a job asks for a permenent address, what do you give them?
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My grandparents :lol:
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Are the contents of your van insured against break-ins (during the day when you're at work) or due to traffic accidents (or parking lot accidents)?
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Why not just save yourself the trouble of having to convert a van to be your home, and get yourself a motorhome? People might not think that as strange. And it comes with its own bathroom and kitchen.
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Why not just save yourself the trouble of having to convert a van to be your home, and get yourself a motorhome? People might not think that as strange. And it comes with its own bathroom and kitchen.
Go look up the respective costs.
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How long did it take you to convert the van for your devious uses?
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Used full size van + mats = 10k to 15k TOPS.
Used Motorhome is gonna be into the 30 to 40k range for something that is not completely falling down and worn out.
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Used full size van + mats = 10k to 15k TOPS.
Used Motorhome is gonna be into the 30 to 40k range for something that is not completely falling down and worn out.
Not to mention the costs of fueling and parking a van vs. a motorhome.
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And that's for a motorhome that you don't need a truck for.
You could get something smaller and cheaper, but you're going to need an SUV to tow it. So yeah, van's just easier.
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tbh mate I think you deserve a HLP Legend badge or something for not only surviving in the van but seemingly doing quite well out of it
I tend to agree. But a custom title will have to do. :p
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It looks good, kara.
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Does it weigh a lot and then like to lean over in the corners? Going up hills?
If you can build stuff better than Richard Hammond: :ick:
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Are the contents of your van insured against break-ins (during the day when you're at work) or due to traffic accidents (or parking lot accidents)?
Unfortunately no. Just straight liability insurance.
Why not just save yourself the trouble of having to convert a van to be your home, and get yourself a motorhome? People might not think that as strange. And it comes with its own bathroom and kitchen.
First reason is that it isn't stealthy. You can't park a motorhome in nearly as many places as you can park a van. A motorhome just screams "Someone lives in here!" while a van doesn't.
Second reason is cost. Over the last few years I've put about 3k into this van including the cost of the van itself. Everything is new, built the way I want it, and I know the ins and outs of every system in the van. For 3k, a motorhome will be either one hell of a deal or at least 25 years old. Most motorhomes and trailers are incredibly poorly constructed and the recurring costs of repairs can spiral out of control.
How long did it take you to convert the van for your devious uses?
About a week and a half to get it livable before I actually moved in, and all the rest of the work has been done on the road. Here's a few pics of it as I was building it:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/van/DSC00653.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/van/DSC00666.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/van/DSC00667.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/van/DSC00669.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/van/DSC00670.jpg)
Used full size van + mats = 10k to 15k TOPS.
Used Motorhome is gonna be into the 30 to 40k range for something that is not completely falling down and worn out.
Not to mention the costs of fueling and parking a van vs. a motorhome.
I get about 12 mpg on the freeway, 10 city.
Does it weigh a lot and then like to lean over in the corners? Going up hills?
If you can build stuff better than Richard Hammond: :ick:
Turning is a fun experience. Occasionally I'll take a turn too fast and the drawers under the microwave will open or if the fridge is full of soda, it will open and spill everything into the hallway :P
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Wow, that looks like a helluva lot of effort you put into building that thing into a liveable place.
/me applauds Kusanagi.
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Did you ever read this blog? http://guide2homelessness.blogspot.com/
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Hey, I bet you could make a living doing this with other vans and selling them. An idea? :)
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I'm surprised Stealth hasn't posted on this thread yet, but then again, he hardly ever drops by here any more.
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I'm surprised Stealth hasn't posted on this thread yet, but then again, he hardly ever drops by here any more.
Let's just hope that he didn't get himself killed again. :p
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Had to buy a new refrigerator today :(
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i spent the last few days living in a tiny travel trailer near where my sister lives. its sort of the guest house. something like 150 square feet if you dont count furniture, cabinets, the lavatory, etc. cant use the water pump or the 12v lighting system while the genny is off. the 12v system used to work at night, but it seems something is broke somewhere (probibly a dead 12v battery). the ceiling is high enough to accommodate my 6'4" height in most places. it is pretty cold at night, i kinda wish it had a propane heater, and it has a kitchen, but no propane tank to run the stove and the water heater kinda froze and busted. still i wouldn't mind living in something like that. of course i only slept there, mostly hung out in the cabin where my sister lives. her house is not yet complete (needs plumbing and drywall) so she lives upstairs in the inlaws cabin, which is equally tiny and up some treacherously steep stairs.
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I lived in a Rolls International '70something model that looked suspiciously like this one for 3 years.
(http://www.rvclearinghouse.com/user_images/12060514023644458.jpg)
For a Single Guy with no female companionship it wasn't a bad place to live.
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I will put my opinion simple.
Your the Ultimate Hobo.
EPIC
So how well doe syour laptop run, i assume you play FS2 do you run it at its highest out setting for graphics and what not or do you try to conserve battery by playing for the gameplay alone.
also....How many outlets do you have and od you ever store food that can spoil in your fridge? (i don't mean like leftovers like cooking type stuff.
Oh and do you ever cook a meal or is it all microwave. if you dont when wa sthe last time you have a i guess "Home cooked" meal?
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Hmm in addition to Hilgara, you should do some kind of mod where you fly around in a identical van and have to collect resources.
Combat consists of shooting beams out of the headlights, when you fire the booster the back doors fly open (or a missile barrage),
you fight other vans and cars for supremacy, access to Wiki saturated zones, and the last parking spot at the space diner.
Boss fight is against Eagle 5 from Spaceballs. ;)
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Boss fight is against Eagle 5 from Spaceballs. ;)
:lol: nice movie there :yes:
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I don't suppose you could be convinced to convert your home to also provide CAS? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94dcjJ3XJAo)
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i spent the last few days living in a tiny travel trailer near where my sister lives. its sort of the guest house. something like 150 square feet if you dont count furniture, cabinets, the lavatory, etc. cant use the water pump or the 12v lighting system while the genny is off. the 12v system used to work at night, but it seems something is broke somewhere (probibly a dead 12v battery). the ceiling is high enough to accommodate my 6'4" height in most places. it is pretty cold at night, i kinda wish it had a propane heater, and it has a kitchen, but no propane tank to run the stove and the water heater kinda froze and busted. still i wouldn't mind living in something like that. of course i only slept there, mostly hung out in the cabin where my sister lives. her house is not yet complete (needs plumbing and drywall) so she lives upstairs in the inlaws cabin, which is equally tiny and up some treacherously steep stairs.
You just described one of the main reasons I live in a van as opposed to a used RV or trailer...too much can go wrong, and we in the vandwelling/bus conversion community lovingly refer to them as "sticks and staples" as they are ridiculously fragile and are very expensive to fix when something goes wrong.
You couldn't plug in somewhere? If you were plugged into 120v shore power then the converter should have run the 12v systems just fine. That's how it's set up in my van.
I will put my opinion simple.
Your the Ultimate Hobo.
EPIC
So how well doe syour laptop run, i assume you play FS2 do you run it at its highest out setting for graphics and what not or do you try to conserve battery by playing for the gameplay alone.
also....How many outlets do you have and od you ever store food that can spoil in your fridge? (i don't mean like leftovers like cooking type stuff.
Oh and do you ever cook a meal or is it all microwave. if you dont when wa sthe last time you have a i guess "Home cooked" meal?
Laptop is a 400 dollar POS that barely runs freespace open without lagging to hell. I need to get a new one :P The solar panels provide all the juice I need to keep it going though, and coffeeshops/Kinkos/Internet cafes all have freely available power for me to use.
I have six outlets in the van. Three of them are always hot if the inverter is on or if I'm plugged in somewhere. The other three are wired to those switches behind the drivers seat. One for the microwave, one for the fridge, and one for the computer outlet/fan in the back. That way I can have the inverter on but no power going to those outlets if I have nothing in the fridge or in the microwave since both use power just by being plugged in.
I tend to buy all my food fresh the day I use it, but the fridge is on a timer to save power. 3 hours off, 1 hour on, seems to keep things in there cool enough. Even so, I don't keep anything in there longer than a day or two (milk, eggs, etc)
I use the stove almost daily, and I enjoy cooking. It takes about an hour and a half to two hours to cook a meal from scratch and clean everything afterwards, but it's a very nice relaxed pace.
I don't suppose you could be convinced to convert your home to also provide CAS? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94dcjJ3XJAo)
Haha! Same van as mine, one year newer.
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So do you have a way of preventing an electrical fire. If one starts it will destroy everything..and that many hot outlets in a hot place is kidn a dangerous. I assume your either lucky about it or you have a way to keep it from happening or at least destroying teh van. Ive seen how truly destructive electrical fires are with my own eyes.
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i spent the last few days living in a tiny travel trailer near where my sister lives. its sort of the guest house. something like 150 square feet if you dont count furniture, cabinets, the lavatory, etc. cant use the water pump or the 12v lighting system while the genny is off. the 12v system used to work at night, but it seems something is broke somewhere (probibly a dead 12v battery). the ceiling is high enough to accommodate my 6'4" height in most places. it is pretty cold at night, i kinda wish it had a propane heater, and it has a kitchen, but no propane tank to run the stove and the water heater kinda froze and busted. still i wouldn't mind living in something like that. of course i only slept there, mostly hung out in the cabin where my sister lives. her house is not yet complete (needs plumbing and drywall) so she lives upstairs in the inlaws cabin, which is equally tiny and up some treacherously steep stairs.
You just described one of the main reasons I live in a van as opposed to a used RV or trailer...too much can go wrong, and we in the vandwelling/bus conversion community lovingly refer to them as "sticks and staples" as they are ridiculously fragile and are very expensive to fix when something goes wrong.
You couldn't plug in somewhere? If you were plugged into 120v shore power then the converter should have run the 12v systems just fine. That's how it's set up in my van.
point google earth to 56°54'47.77"N 132°50'4.31"W, you will see a massive patch of green with very little civilization surrounding it. no place to jack in for 120v there. surely i could run another extension cord to the inverter, its only about 30 yards away, but even then i couldnt do much. most of the buildings there get power from the same generator. theres a shop which also doubles as the movie and game room, the outhouse which only gets a 120v line for the light, then aways away is the cabin, and my sisters house is aways from that, it has a portable genny to run power tools but will eventually be tied to the generator shed. the trailer i was in is kind of behind the cabin behind some trees, and theres a hot tub and sauna around there too (they get lighting off of he cabin's power), and a deck which will eventually become a house, but for now it makes a good place to launch fireworks and rc helicopters. the larger buildings have their own battery arrays and their own inverters. the generator is on from between 6 and 12 hours a day. enough to keep all the chest freezers icy despite being on less than half a day. venison usually keeps about year, i was able to make chili with last fall's kill and nobody got sick from it. the fridge now is a different matter. it stays cold enough but not very. essentially anything that can be frozen is. the fridge is mostly for produce, though its better to just go pick it from the garden.
i mostly use my ipod for nighttime lighting. the little trailer is a piece of crap now that i think about it. its certainly not designed for this climate. actually a house boat might suit me better up here. i do like the van idea though, just in the wrong part of the world for it. of course if i did get the van (actually a small bus sounds better too, since i could actually stand up), i would probably live down south where its warm most of the time.
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So do you have a way of preventing an electrical fire. If one starts it will destroy everything..and that many hot outlets in a hot place is kidn a dangerous. I assume your either lucky about it or you have a way to keep it from happening or at least destroying teh van. Ive seen how truly destructive electrical fires are with my own eyes.
Everything is fused, and the outlets to the fridge and microwave are GFI circuits. The inverter will also have a fuse pop if something draws too much power (learned that the hard way a year ago)
Everything is wired and grounded the way it would be in a house. I purchased a book on household electrical wiring and used it to make sure everything would be up to the same code it would be in a house. Plus, I can simply turn off the inverter and the outlets go dead.
Nuke, that sounds awesome.
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An idea might be to drive between say New Jersey and Florida; spend the winters in Florida and the summers in Jersey. I'd think the same could be done in California. Anyways, the idea would be to expend the minimum to keep yourself heated or cooled. Besides, many northern areas, especially on the coast, get a lot of tourists and have new life in summer. It might be easier to have a regular job in those conditions.
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i think id be completely lost on the east coast, never been further east than phoenix.
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What we need is for a whole bunch of FS fans to convert themselves some vans, truck cabs, and RVs, and go on the road together across country, taking camp sites, parking lots, etc. They can maintain constant wireless chat from van to van on the road, network their laptops together for massive multi-player sessions, hit McDonalds' drive-throughs in a chain and really confuse them.
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Hmm in addition to Hilgara, you should do some kind of mod where you fly around in a identical van and have to collect resources.
Combat consists of shooting beams out of the headlights, when you fire the booster the back doors fly open (or a missile barrage),
you fight other vans and cars for supremacy, access to Wiki saturated zones, and the last parking spot at the space diner.
Boss fight is against Eagle 5 from Spaceballs. ;)
Damn now I have a huge temptation to make a van with large rocket engines, missile pods, solar panels, etc and put it into FreeSpace just for this <_>
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Spaceballs Mod!
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Spaceballs Mod!
Can it feature the "Winnebago Man" as this epic tale's version of Jan Dodonna?
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Spaceballs Mod!
Can it feature the "Winnebago Man" as this epic tale's version of Jan Jan Dodonna?
No, but the second seat belt requires a Mawg costume.
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That would be awesome.
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Hmm in addition to Hilgara, you should do some kind of mod where you fly around in a identical van and have to collect resources.
Combat consists of shooting beams out of the headlights, when you fire the booster the back doors fly open (or a missile barrage),
you fight other vans and cars for supremacy, access to Wiki saturated zones, and the last parking spot at the space diner.
Boss fight is against Eagle 5 from Spaceballs. ;)
Damn now I have a huge temptation to make a van with large rocket engines, missile pods, solar panels, etc and put it into FreeSpace just for this <_>
Seems like Maeglamor might have had a similar idea (http://staff.hard-light.net/setekh/rocketcar.jpg).
As much as I like the idea of modifying and living in a van, I think I'd feel vulnerable sleeping in one, even whilst parked in a secure parking area.
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When I was living in that RV, the bed was right underneath one of the two biggest windows in the thing. You get used to it. It's not as secure as say a house or an apartment with a dead bolt, but you get used to it.
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That's true. Plus, you're able to get up and go anywhere with it.
It will never be as secure as a house, but certain situations are better than others.
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well how secure is a house really? about the only other thing you got going for you there is more space between you and the break-in. which actually works to your advantage in a van if you sleep with a weapon nearby ;7
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Unless they tear open the back doors and knife you before you come fully awake.
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Plus, in the event of a Zombie/Velociraptor attack and subsequent emergency evacuation, you can get a head start as you don't have to pack your belongings up :D
Hmm, can you still buy those anti-car-jacking flamethrowers? I think it would make a great birthday present for Kurs ;7 :lol: )
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I keep pepper spray in the van. I have had to use it before. That's about as dangerous as things get.
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I was wondering what your girlfriend's thoughts are regarding sexual intercourse in the back of a house-van and how those impressions shape her view of the future she sees for the two of you together... in say... the next 5-10 years.
Hey, you said in the topic that I can ask anything.
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That's a good question actually.
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I was wondering what your girlfriend's thoughts are regarding sexual intercourse in the back of a house-van and how those impressions shape her view of the future she sees for the two of you together... in say... the next 5-10 years.
Hey, you said in the topic that I can ask anything.
She enjoys it, but we're both too preoccupied with getting our OWN futures off the ground then to really worry about tying them together, to be bluntly honest.
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So how did you come by the knowledge to convert the van into a home and of how its systems function?
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So how did you come by the knowledge to convert the van into a home and of how its systems function?
Matt Foley
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I was wondering what your girlfriend's thoughts are regarding sexual intercourse in the back of a house-van and how those impressions shape her view of the future she sees for the two of you together... in say... the next 5-10 years.
Hey, you said in the topic that I can ask anything.
She enjoys it, but we're both too preoccupied with getting our OWN futures off the ground then to really worry about tying them together, to be bluntly honest.
Followup to this one. How many times have you worn out the rear shocks?
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So how did you come by the knowledge to convert the van into a home and of how its systems function?
Lots and lots of research online and by trial and error.
There's alot of information out there about systems but you have to piecemeal it together quite a bit. I made a few mistakes but have corrected them easily over the last year and a half. There are a few things I wish I did differently but if I ever convert a bus or another van, those lessons will be kept in mind.
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Oh my God, a bushouse. Do it.
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I keep pepper spray in the van. I have had to use it before. That's about as dangerous as things get.
i couldnt resist keeping a shutgun in the van. i mean drive your van to the woods and you have an instant hunting cabin. of course you can also splatter any potential burglars whilst in city limits.
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i couldnt resist keeping a shutgun in the van. i mean drive your van to the woods and you have an instant hunting cabin. of course you can also splatter any potential burglars whilst in city limits.
He was looking to closely XD
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I was wondering what your girlfriend's thoughts are regarding sexual intercourse in the back of a house-van and how those impressions shape her view of the future she sees for the two of you together... in say... the next 5-10 years.
Hey, you said in the topic that I can ask anything.
She enjoys it, but we're both too preoccupied with getting our OWN futures off the ground then to really worry about tying them together, to be bluntly honest.
That's a very nicely phrased answer.
Thanks. :)
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So how did you come by the knowledge to convert the van into a home and of how its systems function?
Matt Foley
N'ah, I don't think that Kusanagi has been divorced ONCE, let alone THRICE.
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Any question that I could possibly wish to ask has most likely been asked already, so I'll say this:
You are my hero.
Also, how much mileage does your van get?
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12 downhill with a tailwind :lol:
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Is this you?
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/dgp56/hi_reddit_im_a_grad_student_living_in_a_van_full/
If so, congrats on making frontpage reddit.
EDIT: Guess it isn't you. But you're not alone! :)
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It's not Kusanagi. That van is a sheißhaus as well.
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Also, Kusanagi's van looks betterer.
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She's got him beat on the catch-phrase, though:
"If this van is lurchin'. don't bother researchin'."
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Also, Kusanagi's van looks betterer.
Danke!