Now ye're talking - to a man living in his van

Boards.ie: Niamh

Our next guest is a full-time professional who lives in a van in an Irish city.

He has chosen to live in a van to avoid paying high rents, avoid living with strangers in a house share situation and to save for a deposit for a more permanent home in the future.
He converted the commercial van to a home himself, learning how to do things by watching videos online.

He is here to answer your questions about his experience of living in a van.

blue5000

Thanks for doing this one.

How big is it, and what alternatives did you look at before opting for the van?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Do your colleagues/friends/family know you live this way?

rapul

How is it bringing members of the opposite sex back?

Nikki Sixx

Fair play to you I admire your spirit. I’m very pissed off myself with the rental situation.

Squatter

Have you paid the residential property tax?

el Fenomeno

What do you do for toilet, shower and waste/refuse facilities?

What's your typical monthly outgoings?

Where do you leave the van parked during the day or at night? Do you move around often?

punisher5112

I guess you move around a lot to try not draw attention to yourself.

What set up have you for cooking, shower, toilet, TV etc....

Does your insurance company know of the conversion?

Have you had issues with people noticing?

Have you been moved on by the five O....

Donald Trump

Do people sing the below to you

Cushtie

Do you feel safe at night parked up somewhere in the city?

Sonny noggs

Do you go to the toilet in a bucket? Do you slop out in the morning?

I'm living in my van, AMA

blue5000 wrote: »

Thanks for doing this one.

How big is it, and what alternatives did you look at before opting for the van?

No problem at all. I'm curious as to what people will ask!

Its a long wheel base, and a high enough roof to stand up normally.

You can move around without bumping into stuff.

Rented for years in Ireland, rural and city.

Since the housing shortage, obviously prices have gone very high, left me in a position to only be able to share with random people , which I feel I'm too old for.

Not too old to live in a van tho

eviltwin

Is it not really cold at night?

Tell me how

How long have you been living like this? How long do you expect to continue in this way?

What do you work at?
How do you find keeping clothes washed, dried and suitable for wearing to work?
What type of insurance do you have on the van?

Wheety

Could you post any pics?

Wheety

Where do you receive post? What did you tell your insurance your address was?

Sonny noggs

Any motor insurance implications?

I'm living in my van, AMA

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

Do your colleagues/friends/family know you live this way?

Friends and family - yes, some think its great, some think I'm mad, some think both.

Professionally, no, I have a bit of a cover story.

It's just too awkward to explain without being judged for it. As it does not affect my work in any way, I feel it is my business.
Although saying that, I think my boss would actually understand no problem, I've dropped subtle hits now and then.

punisher5112

Do you shower at work?

I'm living in my van, AMA

rapul wrote: »

How is it bringing members of the opposite sex back?

Actually a big issue, or maybe not? I don't know yet to be honest.

I was coming out a of a relationship when I was starting this thing, so have not been one the 'scene' for a while, fed up of it totally.

But I'm not a Monk

so yes, I wanna get a few dates now, but like I say, some people understand where Im coming from.

I think the kind of girl that I'd get on with would have no problem understanding my motivations for this, I do have a goal here and its not for ever.

As to practicalities, once I have a separate toilet with decent porta loo and running water, its not far off a a bedsit or a flat. Civilized innit?

Bringing a lady back to a bare metal box would be a bit crazy, Im sure thats what people think straight away

Danzy

Do you feel left out of the conversation when people at work complain about paying 1400 a month and you think that ****er went straight to your deposit account?

Donald Trump

Did you ever head out on the piss and just park it within walking distance of the pub beforehand

handlemaster

it must be a right turn off for the ladies ? Hows your love life proceeding with this life choice ?

What would your budget for a month be?

Sonny noggs

Did you ever forget where you parked?

only new

Do you keep any pets in the van?

I'm living in my van, AMA

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

Fair play to you I admire your spirit. I’m very pissed off myself with the rental situation.

Thank you. Its that feeling that pushed me in this direction.

I'd like to stress, this whole thing is a means to and end for me - do it a couple of years, save like mad, get enough together as a deposit / basis for a loan.

What I am trying to buy is a wrecked old cottage in the boonies somewhere, which is actually affordable.

My dream is cheap, so in short, I dont intend to live in the van for ever, I have a very clear goal set and reason for this.

I'm living in my van, AMA

Squatter wrote: »

Have you paid the residential property tax?

iamwhoiam

How do you get post ? How do you cook ? Do you move it around or stay in one spot ? How do you wash clothes and yourself ?

I'm living in my van, AMA

el Fenomeno wrote: »

What do you do for toilet, shower and waste/refuse facilities?

What's your typical monthly outgoings?

Where do you leave the van parked during the day or at night? Do you move around often?

Toilet - Porta Potti, try not to use unless really need to. Stored away when not in use.

I'm building an actual toilet shower room , a wet room , room in the next few weeks, looking forward to having that, more civilized like.

Toilet / Shower - Work Thankfully. Although I am adding a shower to the van asap.

Waste- I have access to a wheelie bin which I chip in for, I visit that once a week pretty much.

Waste Grey Water - captured in a Metal Jerry Can, 20 liters I think I have a also have access to a drain to empty this into. I'd have to empty that every 6 days I think. Just kitchen water basically.

Bummer1234

How long do you plan on living the way you are now? What do you miss the most in the van from a house? Whats the craic with Electricity?

Fair balls to you for doing it btw!

frag420

Have you got one of those signs that says...

If this vans a rocking, don’t come a knocking?

Edited as just noticed you’re not getting much action currently, knock away folks!

I'm living in my van, AMA

punisher5112 wrote: »

I guess you move around a lot to try not draw attention to yourself.


What set up have you for cooking, shower, toilet, TV etc....

Does your insurance company know of the conversion?

Have you had issues with people noticing?

Have you been moved on by the five O....

When I started this, I was moving around every night to a handful of decent spots, like the bloody KGB were after me. Bit too paranoid I think.

But less so now, Mon - Thurs, I've got a perfect little spot where I'm in no one's way and no one can see me. Its very close to work, so my commute is under 5 mins to work car park.
Weekends, I can be anywhere in the county / country so I park where ever.

Generally just don't get in peoples way, don't be obnoxious in your parking, don't block peoples front room windows/driveways etc.
Use some cop on basically.

What set up have you for cooking, shower, toilet, TV etc....

I've covered the toilet / shower.

TV / Entertainment - all laptop and tablet at the momen, although I am putting in a wee 12v TV in , so I have offline entertainment when out in the wilds.
This summer I'm going to put some money into the leisure battery: Li-Po and decent solar, so I can run a low voltage PC and other bits.

You find when doing this , you need very little and the technology makes it very easy.
This all would have been a of rougher and more boring 10 -15 years ago, the tech makes it a lot more comfortable in the evenings.

Cooking

I have a twin gas hob stove with built in Sink, Ive built a unit around it and its all secured to the wall/ floor, contains gas bottle fresh water and gray water underneath. All quite compact actually.
Im pulling it all out this summer and rebuilding it with tweaks.

Alpha_zero

Wow such an interesting topic, cause no one have ever lived in a van before, go on youtube nobody does this. I mean how do they come up with this stuff.

Viscount Aggro

Its a stealth camper van, right? Blackout windows.

Popular in the UK. Theres always a couple for sale on Donedeal.

Trick is to move around. Nobody would notice a transit van parked in their estate overnight.

Insurance? None of their business.

Desperate times, demand desperate measures. I would putting away serious wedge for a couple of years, then move on your cottage plan. Check out the guy on Youtube, Mossy Bottom.

You are a badass.

Why a Van though?
Is it just so no-one knows? Like could you not have a little camper, already set up for living in?

punisher5112

bubblypop wrote: »

Why a Van though?
Is it just so no-one knows? Like could you not have a little camper, already set up for living in?

This would attract more attention and you would be moved on as most of not all councils have bye laws on these been used.

Danzy

Alpha_zero wrote: »

Wow such an interesting topic, cause no one have ever lived in a van before, go on youtube nobody does this. I mean how do they come up with this stuff.

Christ but the whole thing is very black, pointless, stupid, black I tell ya.

Alpha_zero

Viscount Aggro wrote: »

Its a stealth camper van, right? Blackout windows.

Popular in the UK. Theres always a couple for sale on Donedeal.

Trick is to move around. Nobody would notice a transit van parked in their estate overnight.

Insurance? None of their business.

Desperate times, demand desperate measures. I would putting away serious wedge for a couple of years, then move on your cottage plan. Check out the guy on Youtube, Mossy Bottom.

You are a badass.

Are you advocating insurance fraud

nibtrix

How long did the conversion take, and was there anything that didn't work out like you hoped?

Heres Johnny

Are you upset some posters just assumed you like ladies without knowing anything about you?

I'm living in my van, AMA

Does your insurance company know of the conversion?

Bit of a grey area, I have a few things I need to do to register the van as a camper. Once that is done - like in the next few weeks, Ill get camper insurance and tax and be legit. I actually have to buy a small car first to get camper insurance.

I am not comfortable doing this but my insurance is paid fully and I am trying to sort this out pronto.
At the start of me doing this and for a good while, it was basically a mattress in the back of a commercial van. Eternally it looks commercial still.
I dont want to cross lines or break rules, but felt my back was against a wall and I had to take some control when I started all this, Ive had some debt to clear,now thats done, I can sort all of this out, cause this stuff is actually expensive ironically.


Have you had issues with people noticing?

One nice lady asked me to not park in front of her view, she was very nice, I moved immediately, I did not actually notice her Window.

One chancer one night knocked on the door and tried the handles, I gave him a shout to ask what he wanted and he said 'Sorry , I thought you were locked in buddy' I think I surprised him, lol

Have you been moved on by the five O....

Actually zero trouble , ever, from the Police. I always have full compliance on the windshield , and change the lightbulbs when they blow etc.

I keep off their radar as much as possible, not that I am doing anything wrong.

Heres Johnny

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Are you upset some posters just assumed you like ladies without knowing anything about you?

Are you upset that Johnny's trying to hijack your great thread and make it about some other BS?

OT, OP, have you ever had any times when you've been worried about your safety kipping in the van somewhere? What about security generally, do you take particular precaution to safeguard personal belongings?

I'm living in my van, AMA

Cushtie wrote: »

Do you feel safe at night parked up somewhere in the city?

Pretty much, I mean, its Ireland!

A little bit of cop on goes a long way, and once you get familiar with your little rat runs , it all becomes routine. Like, this is totally normal to me now and I dont think about it at all anymore.

At the start, I was pretty nervous and full of self doubt doing this. It took me a while to get used to the vibe of it and sleep easy.

No, I feel safe, but I always have my eyes open and the radar on, and do not get myself into hassle in any way.

Ben Done

I presume you don't have a vent for your gas, given it's a stealthy setup - hope you have a Carbon Monoxide alarm at least?

I'm living in my van, AMA

Sonny noggs wrote: »

Do you go to the toilet in a bucket? Do you slop out in the morning?

I have covered this above, you can do this like an animal I suppose if you like , but with the price and availability of camper van stuff, no reason not to be as civilized as you can make it.

Donald Trump

Alpha_zero wrote: »

Are you advocating insurance fraud

It's not really insurance fraud though is it?


It would only be insurance fraud if he made a claim and lied when doing so


It might turn out that he would try to make a claim and his insurance would be invalidated. But that's his own loss

I'm living in my van, AMA

eviltwin wrote: »

Is it not really cold at night?

Totally honest- I've learned the hard way.

My First Winter - in town was early Feb, I'd done a ****ty job on insulation, did not do my research, had no heating, no ventilation and a rubber mattress.
It was bloody horrible, I can take the cold, its the damp that kills you. I did that for a few months.

I had spent every cent on getting the van, and had to move to start the new job, in the van.
Defiantly questioning wtf I was doing at that point, lol

My second Winter - this one just passed - I had sorted out the insulation ( Heavy industrial bubble foil) , cut three windows in the roof - No more damp, at all.
I only got a cheap Chinese desial heater in March this year, which is awesome, but I got away with it this Winter as it was not that cold.

Burning the two hobs, with a big Aluminium Reflector bouncing the heat at me was enough, basic , but with the good insulation it worked. Crack that Window tho or you die lol.

In next few weeks Im putting in a micro solid fuel ( Wood/Turf) stove in it, along with the Diseal Heater and the decent insulation, I will not be cold or damp again. Winning!

gussieg

fair play for the lateral thinking , may i suggest a little portable projector takes up no space and works with all things esp a samsung galaxy s5 phone
i spent about 2 years in my car, due to not wanting to part with my pet, and also not get into ridiculous sharing scenarios at my age. have a place now , but also a car that doubles as a mini camper when needed.

I'm living in my van, AMA

Tell me how wrote: »

How long have you been living like this? How long do you expect to continue in this way?

What do you work at?
How do you find keeping clothes washed, dried and suitable for wearing to work?
What type of insurance do you have on the van?

It was two years in Feb. I think another 18 months /two years until I reach my financial goal.

What do you work at?
White Collar , Professional.

How do you find keeping clothes washed, dried and suitable for wearing to work?

I use those Revolution Washer /Dryers. I say white collar, but its informal dress which makes it much easier.
If any serious stuff comes up, I usually buy a cheap new shirt in Dunne's or the like.

What type of insurance do you have on the van?
Covered this sticky one above

Alpha_zero

Donald Trump wrote: »

It's not really insurance fraud though is it?


It would only be insurance fraud if he made a claim and lied when doing so


It might turn out that he would try to make a claim and his insurance would be invalidated. But that's his own loss

What's it called when you don't provide full and truthful account to your insurance company, for example you fail to declare that you are living out and converting your van to accommodate this.

For example how you plan on heating said van, or will you be cooking in said van. People complaining about high insurance costs, yet everybody encourages this guy to omit pertinent information.