Comments on: How to: Live in your car http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/ travel culture worldwide Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: emma http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-56632 emma Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:13:55 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-56632 what a fascinating article. i was told it was completely illegal to live in your car in the States. it's cool to know that it is possible. thank you! what a fascinating article. i was told it was completely illegal to live in your car in the States. it’s cool to know that it is possible. thank you!

]]> By: Marisa LaValette http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-56546 Marisa LaValette Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:09:20 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-56546 I love Matador Network but had not come across the "living in car" topic until now. One of the best things about roadtripping in your car is how you meet others with similar living arrangements. It was me, my boyfriend, and our dog Ruby living in a Chevy S-10 pickup, you know, the one with a little six-foot bed that is barely more than four feet side. We had a cap on the top, but no sort of trailer or extra storage space attached. Over the course of our 8.5-month trip, we ran into a guy who converted a full-size school bus into the "Cool Bus." It was complete with shower, flush toilet, oven, microwave, sofa, window-seats, closet with railing and hangers, etc. We ran into another young couple who had made their own teardrop trailer. When you lifted the lid to the trailer, there was a sink and three-burner stove! People become very creative with living spaces when living on the road. My boyfriend was nice enough to build me a special compartment in the back of the truck for my hiking shoes, running shoes, flip flops, and crocs. Ruby had her own compartment for her food, vitamins, toys, and jacket. While on the road you learn how to maximize on every square inch of storage space. You can see some of our adventures showcased on my blog "256 Days in a Pickup Truck" at marisalavalette.com. Please feel free to share on my blog about your own experiences on the road in your car! I love Matador Network but had not come across the “living in car” topic until now. One of the best things about roadtripping in your car is how you meet others with similar living arrangements. It was me, my boyfriend, and our dog Ruby living in a Chevy S-10 pickup, you know, the one with a little six-foot bed that is barely more than four feet side. We had a cap on the top, but no sort of trailer or extra storage space attached. Over the course of our 8.5-month trip, we ran into a guy who converted a full-size school bus into the “Cool Bus.” It was complete with shower, flush toilet, oven, microwave, sofa, window-seats, closet with railing and hangers, etc. We ran into another young couple who had made their own teardrop trailer. When you lifted the lid to the trailer, there was a sink and three-burner stove! People become very creative with living spaces when living on the road. My boyfriend was nice enough to build me a special compartment in the back of the truck for my hiking shoes, running shoes, flip flops, and crocs. Ruby had her own compartment for her food, vitamins, toys, and jacket. While on the road you learn how to maximize on every square inch of storage space. You can see some of our adventures showcased on my blog “256 Days in a Pickup Truck” at marisalavalette.com. Please feel free to share on my blog about your own experiences on the road in your car!

]]> By: Improvise&Adapt http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55920 Improvise&Adapt Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:43:08 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55920 Divorce created a desperate situation and a desperate solution. Good stuff in the article, however I would add a few things; 1. A gym membership is invaluable. 2. A vehicle with collapsible compartments make life easier (ie Honda Element, Chevy Avalanche, or any SUV with fold-down seats 3. Parking around 24 hour retail or services is good but high concentration apartment areas are also good for blending in.and don't become a regular wrt parking location. 4. There is no substitute for a city with median temperatures. 5. FABREEZE! Your car can take on your body odor in short period of time where only others can smell. 6. An alarm clock so that you don't oversleep in a tow zone. Divorce created a desperate situation and a desperate solution.

Good stuff in the article, however I would add a few things;
1. A gym membership is invaluable.
2. A vehicle with collapsible compartments make life easier (ie Honda Element, Chevy Avalanche, or any SUV with fold-down seats
3. Parking around 24 hour retail or services is good but high concentration apartment areas are also good for blending in.and don’t become a regular wrt parking location.
4. There is no substitute for a city with median temperatures.
5. FABREEZE! Your car can take on your body odor in short period of time where only others can smell.
6. An alarm clock so that you don’t oversleep in a tow zone.

]]> By: Intrepid Bass http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55894 Intrepid Bass Sat, 25 Sep 2010 08:16:53 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55894 I'm 6'1" and lived in my '91 Acura Integra in Florida for three months while on a solo tour. As for the vehicle, size does matter and I've since replaced the Ac with a Nissan Maxima; plenty of back seat room for sleeping and for practicing my instrument. Ample trunk space allows me to keep what few other things I have out of sight and the factory alarm is a great touch. Also, to the list above, add flushable wipes and use them to clean all your dark places every day you can't get to a shower! Universities are a great place to get some food and recharge your electronics - there are so many people walking around at any given time that if you aren't just plain gawking at stuff, no one will notice you. Starbucks' bathrooms lock so if you need to clean up and shave, you can't be disturbed. Just don't take forever. Finally, you MUST be able to cope with some degree of boredom and a general lack of privacy or you will be looking for an apartment within a week. Happy motor-livin'! I’m 6’1″ and lived in my ’91 Acura Integra in Florida for three months while on a solo tour. As for the vehicle, size does matter and I’ve since replaced the Ac with a Nissan Maxima; plenty of back seat room for sleeping and for practicing my instrument. Ample trunk space allows me to keep what few other things I have out of sight and the factory alarm is a great touch. Also, to the list above, add flushable wipes and use them to clean all your dark places every day you can’t get to a shower! Universities are a great place to get some food and recharge your electronics – there are so many people walking around at any given time that if you aren’t just plain gawking at stuff, no one will notice you. Starbucks’ bathrooms lock so if you need to clean up and shave, you can’t be disturbed. Just don’t take forever. Finally, you MUST be able to cope with some degree of boredom and a general lack of privacy or you will be looking for an apartment within a week. Happy motor-livin’!

]]> By: William K Wallace http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55761 William K Wallace Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:30:36 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55761 Living in a car sounds like hell to me...hopefully I will never personally find out how bad it truly is... Living in a car sounds like hell to me…hopefully I will never personally find out how bad it truly is…

]]> By: Robert RV http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55657 Robert RV Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:38:02 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55657 Personally I am all for roughing it and getting that sense of freedom, but my weak side tells me that car living is not the way to go... just to rough! I would, and I do plan to when the kids are bigger to sell up and spend at least 12 months on the road seeing the world in my RV... who knows I may even find that perfect spot by a lake that will become my new home...wish me luck. Regards, Rob <a href="http://www.rvpatiolights.net" rel="nofollow">RV Patio Lights</a> Personally I am all for roughing it and getting that sense of freedom, but my weak side tells me that car living is not the way to go… just to rough! I would, and I do plan to when the kids are bigger to sell up and spend at least 12 months on the road seeing the world in my RV… who knows I may even find that perfect spot by a lake that will become my new home…wish me luck.

Regards, Rob
RV Patio Lights

]]> By: JourneyHome http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55230 JourneyHome Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:02:20 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55230 Hilarious - found you on twitter and wordpress good luck livin' the dream! Paul Hilarious – found you on twitter and wordpress good luck livin’ the dream!

Paul

]]> By: sonya harvey http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55210 sonya harvey Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:28:45 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55210 thanks for sharing that link Dean. bookmarked for future reference in case the car living need rises again. thanks for sharing that link Dean. bookmarked for future reference in case the car living need rises again.

]]> By: Dean Phillips http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-55212 Dean Phillips Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:07:16 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-55212 Car Camper Fans: I found this additional resource on the web on living in a car or RV. Includes how to build a camper van. Good stuff. http://cheaprvliving.com/ I would just add that in a pinch, you can park in the long-term parking lots at Airports. If you like the sound of jets and the smell of Jet-A, it's a match made in heaven! See you on the road! Car Camper Fans:

I found this additional resource on the web on living in a car or RV. Includes how to build a camper van. Good stuff.

http://cheaprvliving.com/

I would just add that in a pinch, you can park in the long-term parking lots at Airports. If you like the sound of jets and the smell of Jet-A, it’s a match made in heaven!

See you on the road!

]]> By: David / HitTheRoad.ca http://matadornetwork.com/life/how-to-live-in-your-car/#comment-54638 David / HitTheRoad.ca Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:49:58 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=4371#comment-54638 Great suggestions! I find that a thin foamy sleeping mat comes in very handy. Roll it up to smooth out the bumps, folds, and creases of the back seat. Makes napping MUCH nicer :) David HitTheRoad.ca Great suggestions!

I find that a thin foamy sleeping mat comes in very handy. Roll it up to smooth out the bumps, folds, and creases of the back seat. Makes napping MUCH nicer :)

David
HitTheRoad.ca

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