How to Live In a Car, Van, or RV: And Get Out of Debt, Travel, and Find True Freedom

My immediate interest in buying this book was to learn something about doing exactly what the author did. And for economic reasons, as well. I'm about to retire, and I've long dreamed of vandwelling.I have a big edge on entering the vandwelling culture. I've logged many miles backpacking and car camping, and the minimalist practices involved, along with the vagabond philosophy of vandwelling, have already provided me with a lot of experience. The author treats the subject with wonderful hands-on horse sense--the kind of horse sense I grew up with, from farmers and many tradesmen and tradeswomen who worked with their hands and knew the feel of physical reality. The author is such a person.I'm finding that almost no one who writes or teaches about converting a van offers precision, step-by-step plans for a specific configuration of the interior and its fittings. This author doesn't, either. But he does touch on every infrastructural issue of living in whatever you construct, and his own practices and his advice are always spot-on: you'll know what to do.He also deals with the extraterritorial issues of vandwelling: how to stealth camp in urban settings, and how to assure your survival if you go off-grid--boondocking. He urges asking where he might be allowed to park for a night--e.g., the police. He discusses matters of safety, both in town and in the boonies.And finally, he advises humane treatment of all who might dispute your manner of existence: policemen and policewomen, who might be regarded adversarially, but who really are concerned with safety--yours and others. He speaks respectfully of commercial venues where the vandweller might access facilities for sanitation and cleanliness: trade there for something you might need. Ask them to use their facilities.It is a substantive book, without pretense or any excess of words. From it you simply learn.

Great resource for those who live in a car, van, or RV under any circumstance such as forced or by choice, short-term or long-term. This book also gives a compassionate look at the reasons some are in their vehicles not by choice.

Bob Wells, who wrote this, is a nice guy and has long experience in mobile living. I have met him and camped in a get-together with him. I follow his blog and occasionally participate in the forum on his web site. Clearly, I'm not a completely objective reviewer. He writes well and suffers a little less than most self-published writers from the lack of proofreading.This is a good first or only book to read if you (a) see it as necessary to live in a vehicle due to losing your housing, (b) you want to find a good way to leave the rat race to the rats and live a more sane life, or (c) are already planning or beginning a life in a vehicle. That covers pretty much anyone who would be likely to read this book based on the title. He gives a disclaimer about all this being risky (with which I do not necessarily agree), then goes on with an introduction and his own story. He tells it well and it is interesting. He spends some time advocating for the mobile lifestyle, then goes into setting priorities. Following that, he begins on the "nuts and bolts" of vehicular living: choosing an appropriate vehicle (if you have a choice), either parking in urban setting or "boondocking" (essentially, free camping) on public lands, bathroom functions and keeping clean, cooking, communication, electricity, and temperature control for sleeping in vehicles. He adds a little more advocacy in the midst of that, but in ways that relate to the subject at hand. I will state that I have studied this subject for several years and have a little bit of relevant experience. I tell you that in order to support my next statement. Robert Wells advocates nothing at all that I do not believe will work well for those who use his advice.So why four stars rather than five? As with most advocates, Robert Wells has a strong viewpoint. He lives in quiet natural places, many of which cannot be reached on ordinary roads. He dislikes cities and apparently cannot understand why one would want to stay in one voluntarily. Even though he gives good, sound advice for urban "dwelling," based on experience, his personal distaste for urban living affects his views. In addition, his recommendations for equipment tend toward high quality, durable items that many might not be able to afford. Even though I'm sure he is correct in an accounting sense (in the long run, his choices will surely work out better financially), those with less resources will make different choices for their own financial reasons and/or because they have reasons to spend nights in cities. In addition, those who reasonably expect to live mobile only temporarily will not need really high quality in items that will not translate in permanent housing.Conclusion: this is a great book to read before or during the beginning of your mobile living, whether it's a necessity, an adventure, or an ongoing lifestyle for you. If you want the wilderness life that Mr. Wells lives and can make the beginning he recommends, you're all set. If your objectives are different or you need to use a different approach, it's still a solid starting point. Then go to his web site (given in the text), register for the forum, and use it. A wide variety of people post to that forum, and you can solve many problems right there. You will find leads to still other resources, too.

I found Bob on his YouTube channel I have only seen a few video's they kept popping up and just the life advice is worth the read the stuff that has nothing to do with Van or RV life. My favorite line "if I don't like my neighbors I just turn the key and leave" I've always wanted to live this life now with some planning and doing I'm on my way life is too short to live work a 9-5 live with jerk neighbors or worse when you could be hanging out with postcard views on your doorstep and nice people are the nature type the jerks are pavement bound (mostly)

Very insightful and informative, lots of great ideas. Not just for van dwellers. Some good ideas about other types of vehicles.

This is a very basic primer aimed at anyone who thinks they might want to live in a vehicle. The primary mover would be a life crisis so the author aims his advice for the poor (but rich in spirit). This is not a travel book but an honest and sometimes searing assessment of what it takes to rebel against society's conventions.How to choose a vehicle or how to make do with what you have. How to equip it for living, preferably a van, how to camp stealthily in plain sight, how to live on not much money at all. How to be free in short on four wheels.It's an easy read and offers insight into the mind of marginal dwellers but as one who has lived in small spaces and enjoyed travel the book falls short on personal anecdote and stories of traveling. As the practical how-to stuff ends the book comes to an abrupt halt and the part I wanted, the stories just aren't there.Survivalists, recently divorced, the suddenly poor can glean useful stuff. Those seeking escapist literature should look elsewhere.A quick read and fascinating in its way.

Deixou a desejar. Não agradou. Pouco prático. Não indico. Se pudesse pediria o dinheiro de volta. Não vale o que custou.

Passionate and experienced, I learned some great new things before I move into my van! I foind Robert on YouTube and bought this to support his work as well as the juicy insights. Rock on dwellers and to-be-dwellers! From Adelaide, South Australia.

Wether through circumstance or by choice, you may end up living full time in a van. If so, then this the book you need in order to prepare for the move.It is loaded with helpful information and written by someone who has lived 15+ years in a van and speaks from experience.Don’t forget to watch his videos on YouTube at CheapRVLiving.

Kind of enlightening to think you really do it all without the RV or Van tethered on an RV lot. Who does not want to save those precious dollars and still have all there is that life offers? Oh there is still a little bit of inconvenience but what can be achieved is rather miraculous. Gives a nice picture of it all. Of couse there is still the websites but I like it all in my library here.

Aúnque escrito desde la visión de un ciudadano de Estados Unidos, resulta útil y es una buena lectura para cualquier persona interesada en abandonar el agobio de un modelo de vista estándar de hipotecas, alquileres y alta competitividad por una vida más libre, relajada y barata , pero también más exigente y díficil en relación a las comodidades a las que estamos acostumbrados en nuestras casas de ladrillos.