Bought a motorhome, pictures added.

[paigeoliver]

I am considering selling the rest of my games, most everything else I own, and simply buying a big old 26' RV to live in for a few years until I save up enough to buy a house.

All my possessions, all the clutter, all the noise and crime in my apartment complex, and the feeling of being trapped is really bringing me down. I really think I might enjoy just simplifying it all about 100-fold for a few years. My roommate is moving to Boston in a month or two, and I am getting ansy to leave where I live, but any other el-cheapo cruddy apartment complex is going to be exactly the same.

Anyone have any experience with this? Older motorhomes seem to run about the same price range as older trailers, and they are a heck of a lot more "mobile", so if they try to jack up the lot rental on me then I can just move. It would be a heck of a lot easier to sell once I was ready to move on to something else as well.

[AlanS17]

What's the total value of all the games and parts you have?

[AlanS17]

Also...

What's your address?
What kind of lock do you have on your door?
When do you usually leave for work?

j/k j/k j/k

[pointdablame]

You can send me that Candy cab of yours and I'll hold it til you get your house  

I have no experience with this situation, but if you really think you can do it, I'm sure it would speed up your savings quite a bit.  Coupled with your feeling that you want to leave makes me say why not... but it is a huge decision.

[paigeoliver]

Yes, it is a huge decision. At this point I have already saved up close to $5000 (although I am taking the Burb in for $500 or $600 worth of front end work later this week). My few remaining games are all, well, they are all REALLY high dollar items (Big arcadeVGA D9200 woodgrain frankencab, 29" 6 Slot Neo Geo Candy with 21 cartridges, a 9 out of 10 Midway Mame cocktail, and a Jamma Multiwilliams).

The 4 of those might very well fetch ANOTHER $5000 on their own. I also have a bunch of other stuff that would have to go as well (furniture, TVs, pretty much everything other than my laptop, some clothes, tools, and a few other odds and ends).

I wouldn't be dropping completely out of the scene, I'd just build a miniature unit into one of the walls with a flip-down control panel.

[Bones]

I would suggest selling everything you own. Take this cash plus the 5K you have saved and go to the casino. Put it all on black. Then double up 5 or 6 times.

This is what I do, I solve problems.

[tommy]

Sure tell him to gamble all his life savings away. He could come live with you when it's all over. 

Bet on Red. 

[paigeoliver]

Hmmm, I have already located a good running 1976 Pace Arrow with new tires for $2000. Might be doing this sooner than I thought.

[DYNAGOD]

it so sad that this is what things have come down to.
im actually contemplating the same thing..its the only way to get ahead. i pay 17,000$ dollars a year in rent! not even talking about bills, how the hell am i supposed to be able to save enough to buy a house doing that.
i think there was a guy who wrote a book advocating living in his car to get ahead.

[2600]

Personally always wondered what's keeping you there besides friends and family of course.  I don't pretend to know anything about your situation, but here's a little advice.

The safety zone can be a killer.  Your old enough to go out and have a little adventure.  I'm not saying go buck wild, but don't move 50 miles away.  Move 1000 miles away.  Now is the time to live on your own away from the place you are now.  It's possibly a place near where you grew up.  Make some new friends and get a new job.  Then when you get older and start reminiscing about the place you used to live is the time you choose if you want to move back.  Maybe take a couple college classes.  They don't have to be career building classes, maybe just something you wanted to learn a little bit more about.  Just move, and move far away.

[paigeoliver]

 I am ready to at least move out of the town I went to high school in (I literally live 1 mile from that house).

The only family left in the immediate area are my parents, my sister, and a cousin (whom I NEVER see), all the rest of them moved away already. Most of my friends are married or engaged now, and thus aren't really able to live the same kind of life that I can anymore. I have a couple of younger friends (21 and 22), but one of them is habitually unemployed, and the other is about to get married and join the air force, so they aren't gonna be much fun to hang around either.

[2600]

Well that's 22 months that you have to research locations and then start applying for jobs, applying for classes, or whatever.  After that I highly suggest the move which will bring a whole new outlook and chapter in your life.

[daywane]

I have lived in a RV
78 pace arrow.
still have it. ( never hit the road again with it, hunting lodge now)
lived 24 month in it.
There should be a bed above the driver seat.) this pulls down. MEGA STORAGE up there! we stored all winter stuff up there. also in front of the clothes we put milk crates in front and stored all the VCR tapes.

[fredster]

I don't blame you Paige.

They made a lot of these games.  I am sooo bored with video games myself.  I have some and play them less and less. 

I got into the hobby because learning electronics was cool.  I also liked the auctions and swapping games and making some extra cash.  But it turned from a hobby to a "job" if you know what I mean.

I would keep the mame machine I built, because it's cool and plays all the other games, but I'm tired of keeping up with them.

If you get rid of them, no matter, they are everywhere and if you find the right place and the right time, you can get some more.  Plus, finding a nice place to live and upgrading lifestyle is more important.

[ChadTower]

Boy, those "give me your stuff for nothing" jokes that pop up in nearly every thread never, ever get old.   

[DrewKaree]

You'll need to find out a few things.

Is there a dumping station anywhere near you (for emptying the...you know)
Is there a campground you could stay at (monthly rental usually cheap)
If there's a campground, do they have electric hookups
If there's not a campground, where do you plan to squat, or are you going to try to move from place to place?

I'm not certain about the campgrounds thing, but I think www.woodalls.com should be able to help you in that area or link you to more info somewhere.

I too have contemplated doing this, but only after the kids get done with high school.  I wouldn't recommend going the "squat here for the night" route, because if you get booted, the looking for a place late at night to park your rig could start really messing with you. 

Make CERTAIN the thing doesn't have an old moldy stink to it.  You WILL NOT be able to entirely remove it, and you will start to take on the smell yourself.  The refrigerator on those things DOES come out, and if you ever have a problem with 'em, I've got a much-more-aged-than-I buddy who used to sell RV's, and now only does repairs, lives less than a mile from me.  I do computer work for him, and I'm positive he could answer repair questions if you've got 'em (although he's old and cranky )

For yourself, you'll be fine in that size, in fact, you MIGHT want to see if you can get a tow-behind (fifth wheel is what you'll be looking for), and hook it up to the Suburban.

[DrewKaree]

Here's a link, I dunno what's near you or what specifically you're looking for, but this'll get you started

http://www.woodalls.com/search/camp/

enter in your search criteria (I'd say "open all year" would be a big one) and give 'er a roll.  I think further info from the campgrounds requires registration, but you could prolly find 'em in the yellow/white pages.

And hey, get a laptop and keep up with us

[Bones]

Jules: I'll just walk the earth.
Vincent: What'cha mean walk the earth?
Jules: You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Kane in Kung Fu.

[tommy]

Pulp Fiction references.....while i eat a bigmack.

[97thruhiker]

Sorry to hear about your situation.  I have always enjoyed reading your posts and your arcade knowledge is up there with the best of those on this site.  The RV / trailer route is very doable especially if you are by yourself right now.  I worked at an RV resort here in Florida while I went to college and many people love that lifestyle (all ages).  My father is retired and has lived with my stepmother (20 years his jr, not sure how he did it because she actually has more money then him!) traveling the county.  Right now they are in Alaska.  Anyway I agree with DrewKaree and I would go with a camper if your Suburban is in decent shape (can't use a 5th wheel with a suburban).  You will get a much nicer and newer camper then you would an RV for the same money.  No sense having another engine to maintain.  Either way good luck to you.

[paigeoliver]

I bought the 1975 26' Pace Arrow for $1800. Works great, does need one of the two batteries replaced, and the horn isn't honking, but besides that it is all there. It does have 6 brand new tires on it.

It does need a good cleaning, and I'll probably reupolster all the seats and maybe repaint the outside, but it is nice and solid.

I'm taking a week and a half off work at the beginning of august to go camping, I'll decide about it then. If it isn't gonna work out then I'll just sell the sucker next year when the plates come due.

Some of the trailer parks in St. Charles take motorhomes, I know the one my co-worker Kevin lived in had a whole bunch of them, and his was one of the cheaper ones in that area.

I really don't have much anything to lose with this experiment, as very few of my possessions are things that I truly planned to own "long term" anyway. I figure at the most I'll just have to sell the sucker, I could probably get my whole amount back, even if I can't I won't lose all that much.

[paigeoliver]

Outside.

[paigeoliver]

inside.

[Bones]

I gotta say paige, that is pretty damn cool.

Now buy a weatherproof trailer, a blow-up jumping castle, keep your games and travel the country visiting fairs and hiring out your amusement equipment.

You could also sell milkshakes, ice cream & hotdogs.

[paigeoliver]

Looking at the lowest picture, see that couch/convertabed there? That is USELESS to me. I don't need 4 beds, it faces the freaking catalytic heater (can that be relocated? Anyone know?). Wonder if there is anything better I can do with that space?

Truthfully I could stand to rip out and redo the whole rear "bedroom" area as well. I just don't need sleeping room for 6 or 8 people, and certainly don't need seating for 14 or 15, but that is what it came with.

[Bones]

You really don

[paigeoliver]

You really don

[jbox]

You really don

[paigeoliver]

You really don

[Grasshopper]

Wow, that's enormous, probably bigger than many Japanese houses! I'd happily live in a motorhome of that size. That's one thing I envy about you guys in the States, so much empty space.

[paigeoliver]

Wow, that's enormous, probably bigger than many Japanese houses! I'd happily live in a motorhome of that size. That's one thing I envy about you guys in the States, so much empty space.

With the videogames out of the picture it is actually MORE space than I need. I wonder how difficult it would be to install one of them mini washer/dryer units in it, I would like that more than I would having seating for 90.

[Bones]

How about buying a dog and cruise around solving mysteries?




Sorry paige, I really have nothing constructive to say here but I do enjoy entertaining the possibilities.

[paigeoliver]

How about buying a dog and cruise around solving mysteries?




Sorry paige, I really have nothing constructive to say here but I do enjoy entertaining the possibilities.

Actually, becoming a travelling do-gooder was discussed with my buddy on the way to pick the sucker up. Only problem is that being a travelling do-gooder doesn't pay very well, and that sucker costs 37 cents a mile in gas to drive.

[Bones]

Actually, becoming a travelling do-gooder was discussed with my buddy on the way to pick the sucker up.

Yeah, that's what I would probably do also.....

[Sephroth57]

i dunno maybe its just the angles of the pics that looks kinda small to live in. Its pretty nice especially for 1800 but i dunno , after living in an apartment having room to walk around and going to that, you think you can make that transition? well i guess like you said after your camping trip you will figure it out

[paigeoliver]

Yes, I'll have like 9 days to figure that one out.

Just got it insured with Progressive, $150 a YEAR. Granted that is twice what my scooter costs, but only 25 percent of what my Suburban costs.

Now hopefully I will wake up early enough today to find someplace to give the outside a good wash, it looks like it hasn't been washed externally in years.

[JackTucky]

The couch next to the driver is wild.  Sitting backwards heading down the freeway at 80 miles per hour?  Maybe it can't go 80, but I wouldn't sit there without a seatbelt.   

Art

[ChadTower]

People are still going to throw rocks at you, only now you can take everything you own along when you chase them.

[Stingray]

Looks like quite a deal to me. I expect you could easily make money on that if you chose to sell it.

-S

[daywane]

Make CERTAIN the thing doesn't have an old moldy stink to it.

[shmokes]

Take the door off the fridge and take it out sideways?

[RayB]

I skipped over most of this thread...  What do you do for a living Paige? As i see it, you need to improve your quality of life. Any way you can do that by getting a better job or at least getting training for a better job?

[fredster]

Now you can say:

"I Live in a VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER.."

[Stingray]

Make CERTAIN the thing doesn't have an old moldy stink to it.  You WILL NOT be able to entirely remove it, and you will start to take on the smell yourself.  The refrigerator on those things DOES come out,

tell me how.
still would like mine out

Chainsaw... oxy/acetylene torch... dynamite... the mind boggles with possibilities.

-S

[monkeybomb]

Have you measured to see if the candy cab will fit in the back area you want to redo anyway?  I'd love to see this story have a happy arcade ending.  It seems like you are getting rid of every outlet for gaming.

[ChadTower]

Take out the fridge and build a cab into the space.

[markrvp]

Now you can say:

"I Live in a VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER.."

LMAO!

Paige,

The area under the seats across from the fridge probably has duct work in it.  However, you can take the cushions off and buil shelves or other storage space on top of it.  We made a television production van out of one of these and built video equipment racks right on top of the benches like I'm describing.  You can do the same in back.

[DrewKaree]

tell me how.
still would like mine out

shmokes prolly has the solution there, otherwise I'm thinking take it out through the driver's door.  Newer models have an access panel on the outside that you remove and pull it out that way.  There simply is no way whatsoever that they built your entire RV around that fridge, so there IS some way to remove it.  Think about it.  What would happen if it failed, and had to be replaced.  Would they expect you to keep the old one in the RV?  That IS funny to think about, but just not plausible

Mark, do you remember what you had to to to remove the fridge, or did you guys keep it in there for "spare" beer storage?

Paige, I'd say tear out the rear sleeping area, but that table/bed setup is your "kitchen".  Are you one of those that eats wherever, and a table isn't a necessity? 

Check out that Woodall's site.  I'm betting you've got some serious black streaks on that thing, and they won't come off even close to easy with soap/water/brush.  They'll know some chemical (dunno if TSP might work) or product that will remove that stuff easier. 

[paigeoliver]

No, the real kitchen table is a booth up in front, that place in the back is a TV area. I would like to at least lose one part of the 3 sides and put in a much larger set, and other entertainment stuff.

Or at the very minimum, at least work in a much larger set. It has a 13" now, I want to put a 32" in there and move that 13" elsewhere in the RV.

Took it out today to show my parents and some of my friends. We got the generator fired up, and everything works fine (well, it started working fine once we figured out that MOST of the AC power in the thing is disabled unless you plug this plug into itself in one of the access hatches outside).

[paigeoliver]

Also, the thing only has one door, the side one, no driver's, passenger's or rear doors are on it.

I'd assume the larger appliances might have to be take out via a removed windshield.

[USSEnterprise]

What you should do is rip out that couch and stick a mame cabinet there. A small cocktail would fit

[paigeoliver]

I have a Midway cocktail that could theoretically replace one of the tables in the thing (there are two). I'll make some measurements.

[USSEnterprise]

I have wondered what it would be like to live on the road. That only cost you $1800 with a running engine and all? Thats amazing.

[ChadTower]

Also, the thing only has one door, the side one, no driver's, passenger's or rear doors are on it.

So, uh, what do you do if it catches fire?

[USSEnterprise]

open all the windows and floor it?

[Stingray]

Drive into a lake.

-S

[Bones]

Take the Mr Whippy machine and make a run for it!!! 

[paigeoliver]

Also, the thing only has one door, the side one, no driver's, passenger's or rear doors are on it.

So, uh, what do you do if it catches fire?

Both front windows are also emergency fire exits, one of them is even labeled as such.

Yes, it was $1800 with running engine, $1200 worth of new tires, big beefy Onan generator with 600 hours on it, microwave, fridge, stove, oven, TV, shower, terlet, 3 sinks, 4 beds, 2 tables, CB radio (that doesn't seem to work), and some sweet shag carpet (in mint condition too), in the cockpit area. Also, it had two huge propane tanks, one full, one 3/4 full.

[USSEnterprise]

the propane tanks are the only things I wouldn't be comfortable driving around with

[ChadTower]

You did NOT just refer to a section of a motorhome as a COCKPIT.

 

[Stingray]

the propane tanks are the only things I wouldn't be comfortable driving around with

Considering that just about every automobile on the road is driving around with several gallons of gasoline, I fail to see the issue here.

-S

[ChadTower]

Propane is gas, not liquid, and more immediately combustible.  What I hate is going to fill the propane tank for my outdoor grill, driving around with a propane tank in the trunk of my car.

[TOK]

So, uh, what do you do if it catches fire?

Thank God and go get some hot dogs.

If you have 5 grand in cash and decent credit, you should be able to get into a house, condo, or at least a regular mobile home if thats your thing.
I know real estate prices are nuts because of the interest rates right now, but my brother-in-law bought a ~$100,000 home with under $1500 going in.

[mpm32]

Propane is liquid, that's what LP stands for - Liquid Propane.  It's not a gas until it leaves the tank.

[ChadTower]

If you have 5 grand in cash and decent credit, you should be able to get into a house, condo, or at least a regular mobile home if thats your thing.
I know real estate prices are nuts because of the interest rates right now, but my brother-in-law bought a ~$100,000 home with under $1500 going in.

Paige has personal history issues that would make any large scale loan a real problem, not to mention he's said he wants to move out of state and has to wait two years to do it.

[TOK]

I guess if I was in that situation, I would just try to find an apartment in a better neighborhood for 2 years. Camping is fun, permanently camping isn't. 

[pointdablame]

I guess if I was in that situation, I would just try to find an apartment in a better neighborhood for 2 years. Camping is fun, permanently camping isn't. 

Different strokes for different folks as they say.

Either way though.. no matter what type of apartment you find, there is no way you can save as much money as you would in the motorhome.  Paige has said before that he doesn't like the idea of loans if he can avoid them.  I'm very much like that and prefer to pay for things outright (or with little left to payments), so I think if he can handle the living situation, this is a good way to go.

But try to get that candy cab or cocktail in there paige!!

[nostrebor]

You did NOT just refer to a section of a motorhome as a COCKPIT.

 

No, he referred to a section of a motorhome as a "SHAG CARPETED COCKPIT"

 

[ChadTower]

SWEET MINT SHAG CARPETED COCKPIT.

[nostrebor]

Oh, and if I were a single guy, with little or no possessions, I would live in a motorhome no problem. I can't think of a faster way to build up a "nest egg" than living in this fashion.

The other good option for Paige is that he can look at different areas of the state long term, without getting rooted in too deep.

[USSEnterprise]

Even though propane is liquid when in the tank, it is under a lot of pressure. therefore, if the tank is ruptured in an accident, and there is some sort of spark, kaboom

[AlanS17]

I just noticed that thing is all seats! You could open up a mobile diner!

[Stingray]

Or a mobile, uhm, escort service **nudge, nudge, wink, wink**

-S

[paigeoliver]

Spent a few hours this morning washing the outside. The front and back got much better looking, the sides did not. I guess I am gonna paint the sides then.

[markrvp]

Mark, do you remember what you had to to to remove the fridge, or did you guys keep it in there for "spare" beer storage?

Fridge is most important part for the reason you mentioned.  It STAYS!!

[DrewKaree]

Since the front two windows double as fire exits, I'm sure that's how to remove the fridge if it won't fit out the side door with the fridge door removed.

After looking at the pics, I realized the bed thing.  I say tear that thing out Paige and open up the interior!  What didn't "look better" about the side?  Is it all greyish-black? 

[paigeoliver]

Well, the white part brightened up a bit, but there are still dark streaks, and there are a ton of those little tiny holes that old RVs and trailers develop. It is black behind those holes (most of them have been siliconed up though).

Without painting it it is simply never going to look better than dingy. If I paint it then it will at least have solid colors rather than streaks and dots, and thus will look MUCH better.

[Kremmit]

Going to repaint the sides?

Don't just re-paint, give it sideart!

[paigeoliver]

We repainted the brown stripe and it looks a whole lot better now. I am gonna try some CLR on the black streaks, someone on the motorhome forums claimed that is the only stuff that ever worked for him. I also started repainting the whole interior as well.

Also, I decided on a mild remodel of the rear section, with integrated computer, D9200 monitor, Mame control panel, audio stuff, printer, scanner, etc. Gonna make it the entertainment section and move the small TV into the front area of the RV. Might end up using the middle bed as my bed, tested the big drop down bunk in front and I think I am a bit heavy for it (wood made stress sounds).

So, all my games and a nice empty woodgrain cab are for sale. I posted prices in buy/sell/trade.

[danny_galaga]

I gotta say paige, that is pretty damn cool.

yeah, how much much did you pay for that crappy combi? hehe. although i bet paige didnt get any pics of foxy backpackers with that deal....

[jbox]

Even though propane is liquid when in the tank, it is under a lot of pressure.

<pedantic>
I think you will all find that sentence goes the other way around. It is because of the high pressure that the propane reverts to a liquid. 
</pedantic>

[daywane]

nope. frdge door removed still will not fit out my RV.

Some one said ...I can not believe the RV is built around a fridge.
ever try to get a tub out of you house?
Had to gut a out side wall to get my tub out and a new one in

[SirPeale]

Take it out in pieces.

[HaRuMaN]

Peale, your avatar is disturbing. 

[USSEnterprise]

It looks kinda....sexual.

[nostrebor]

Bah!

All those sit-ups are making ME tired.

I would imagine that you are in the advanced stages of physical training to do your sit-ups in the tub. I'm sure it fires some additional balancing muscles or something

[ChadTower]

All it would do is put all your weight onto your tailbone on a hard surface.  Ouch.

[paigeoliver]

Back on the motorhome topic.

One of my buddies called me this afternoon, he spotted an "RV spaces available" sign in front of a small park in an awesome location. This one is actually in St. Louis county, very few trailer parks still in St. Louis county, not sure of the laws, but I believe St. Louis county currently only allows legacy parks, no new mobile homes, but RVs are still OK, or something like that. I drove around the place and nothing seemed newer than about 1990.

The location is absolutely awesome, right next to the highway exit, only 5 miles from work (currently live 13 miles from work), there is a quick trip right across the street, and (best of all), there is no other residential area in the immediate area, so I don't have to worry about ghettofication of anything other than the trailer park, and the trailer park (being a legacy park), is probably going to be mostly older people, not the younger "trailer trash" types.

I'm hoping the rent will be low, should be, since the owner is ONLY able to accept RVs now, and people just aren't willing to pay as much for an RV slot as they are for a trailer slot.

[paigeoliver]

I went back over again on my motor scooter and cruised the whole park. Really quiet, mostly senior citizens, but there are a few younger people. I saw two spots open, a larger one (might be a singlewide spot), and a smaller spot that is obviously an RV spot. The smaller spot has a great location, it is at the end of a row on a corner, only immediate neighbor is an old man (he was in his yard). Only saw one child, and there were not a lot of childrens toys evident, so my initial guess that the park would be mostly older people was correct.

Oh, and complete bonus, there is an RV service and repair place right next store, and they fill propane tanks there, so I won't have to go far to get my tanks filled, and if it ever breaks down then I won't have to get it towed to a repair place, since that one is close enough to tow-strap the sucker in first gear with my Suburban.

[pointdablame]

wow, that almost seems too perfect.  Make sure it's not infested with zombies or something.....

Good luck, hopefully the rent will be nice and low.

[paigeoliver]

Ok, lot rent is NOT nice and low. The guy wanted $325. When I balked at that he offered $300.

I was thinking more like $200.

I am still considering it at that price though, as it is only 2.5 miles from work (actually drove it to check the mileage), and that saves me 100 miles of commuting per week from my current location, and probably 150 miles per week of commuting from the area I figured I would be moving to.

It also has a quiktrip right across the street, no gas wasted on those soda runs I tend to make, and the grocery store, wally world, fast food and highway are all closer as well (this place is right at the exit).

So basically it is $100 more than I wanted, but I couldn't ask for a better location.

[TOK]

I have to say I was pretty skeptical of the whole plan, but this does sound like a good setup to save some money. The location sounds appealing, which I didn't expect from my typical exposure to mobile parks.

I think my attitude came from the way I was raised. I've been in hunter/gatherer mode since I was in my late teens, always looking toward getting out on my own, getting a better car, a better motorcycle, and eventually getting a house with a garage...  If I was a single guy, I think this setup you have might appeal to me, but I'm whacked in the sense that I'd do it back-assward Rat Race style like everything else and put something like this on the lot.

Definitely gotta have a dirt bike and .45 in the back, and drive it off the lot every couple of weeks to stay in the mountains to shoot and ride. 

I say go for it, but wish you good luck with whatever you do!

[paigeoliver]

Rear engine bus chassis diesel pushers like that are nicer than most people's real houses. Those old people who live in them full time driving around are living in style. I'd love to get one once the value on the older ones of that style starts dropping. I am not sure when exactly that style came around, but none of the old ones I see are ever that style, usually they are the more tradition camper on wheels style.

[daywane]

that style is out of my price range!!!

[DrewKaree]

The "cheaper" versions of those are $100k on the lower end, and used, those are starting to sell ~$75k near me, which is still out of my price range and out of my comfort  zone as long as I have kids still in the house. 

I've been inside of some of the $500k ones, and I've helped work on a custom job that cost a bit more than those, and lemme tell ya, the people buying those are the kind who have no idea what "stuff" really costs, and are THE  WORST people in the world to work for, or to DO work for.  I was ready to punch the guy, and luckily for me, since it wasn't my business, but a friend's, I simply told him I was going home until that guy left before I turned another screw or nut in that thing.

If any of you happen to be one of those kinds of people, I'm sure you have a nice personality and all, but you help to slow down any progress of the people working for you, and help to inflate the price you'll pay for good work.

[JackTucky]

I paid a moving company $9000 to move me from NJ to Indiana.  There were up to 7 guys moving my crap, in 98 degree heat in NJ.

I setup a cooler full of water, bought them lunch, then around 4pm, a large gatorade and $40 each tip.

One of them said, you sure are a nice guy to work for.  Most people just yell at us and complain.  Mind you, they did an excellent job.

My response was, "Well, just because I'm paying someone to work for me, doesn't give me the right to be rude."  He said, "I wish more people thought that"

It's so true.  You get better service when you treat people with respect.

Art "still not in his new house" T.

[Zakk]

Wow, $9000.

[paigeoliver]

Wow, $9000.  And I was all pissy at the $2000 + beer + pizza + tips I paid for my move.  However, I did pitch in and help them a lot.  However, I gotta say I'm impressed with professional movers, they really know what they're doing (not one mark on any wall, except for the ones I put there!).

-This trailer thingy sounds cool, but I do wonder Paige, You said you had at least $5000 going into this...isn't that enough of a downpayment on a house?  I mean, here we can get you 107% financing on a house, which means you actually get money back (and yes, pay BIG TIME for it in the long run).  Not trying to say anything bad about your purchase, since it seems pretty neat, just the realtor in my head talking

Income isn't large enough to purchase anything outside of a home in a slum.

[Zakk]

Wow, $9000.

[paigeoliver]

Serviced as in "do they cut the grass and such?". I didn't ask, but it has to be, because the grass was all uniformly cut everywhere. Or do you mean does it come with utilities? It comes with water, sewer and trash (same as most rentals). I can't imagine I'll use much electricity, not sure how much I'll spend on propane though.

As for my income, I am not talking about being able to get the financing, I am talking about paying the mortgage. I won't spend more than 33 percent of my take home pay on rent or mortgage/insurance/upkeep. That gives me a budget of $500, that just isn't going to buy me anything around here outside of the ghetto.

[TOK]

The "cheaper" versions of those are $100k on the lower end, and used, those are starting to sell ~$75k near me, which is still out of my price range and out of my comfort  zone as long as I have kids still in the house. 

I've been inside of some of the $500k ones, and I've helped work on a custom job that cost a bit more than those, and lemme tell ya, the people buying those are the kind who have no idea what "stuff" really costs, and are THE  WORST people in the world to work for, or to DO work for.  I was ready to punch the guy, and luckily for me, since it wasn't my business, but a friend's, I simply told him I was going home until that guy left before I turned another screw or nut in that thing.

If any of you happen to be one of those kinds of people, I'm sure you have a nice personality and all, but you help to slow down any progress of the people working for you, and help to inflate the price you'll pay for good work.

Yea, thats me. I'm the worst kind though, since I'm not wealthy. I'm a pain in the  butt then stiff ya when it comes time to pay up. 

Just kidding. I'm a regular dude. My comments on the high end motorhome were given from my perspective of doing that vs. my current mortgage, not in Paiges' context of living lean to save for the future. I have a regular old 1800 square foot Cape Cod, nothing special, that would be about the value of one of those mid-line motorhomes. My real point is that I've so structured my life around obtaining crap that the whole concept was kind of alien to me at first. I'm not vapid and materialistic, but I work hard and I'm always trying to improve my standard of living. Hope that makes sense!

[paigeoliver]

I have also spent much of my life optaining crap, but it wasn't raising my quality of life, it was lowering it.

I broke my self from the television habit years ago, now I plan on breaking myself from the consumer habit as well. Too much of our money (and hence are life, as you trade a piece of your life for every dollar you spend), is spent on worthless junk that is never used, duplicate items, impulse items, or things that can be had much cheaper elsewhere.

[Zakk]

Serviced as in "do they cut the grass and such?". I didn't ask, but it has to be, because the grass was all uniformly cut everywhere. Or do you mean does it come with utilities? It comes with water, sewer and trash (same as most rentals). I can't imagine I'll use much electricity, not sure how much I'll spend on propane though.

As for my income, I am not talking about being able to get the financing, I am talking about paying the mortgage. I won't spend more than 33 percent of my take home pay on rent or mortgage/insurance/upkeep. That gives me a budget of $500, that just isn't going to buy me anything around here outside of the ghetto.

That's it.

[paigeoliver]

Serviced as in "do they cut the grass and such?". I didn't ask, but it has to be, because the grass was all uniformly cut everywhere. Or do you mean does it come with utilities? It comes with water, sewer and trash (same as most rentals). I can't imagine I'll use much electricity, not sure how much I'll spend on propane though.

As for my income, I am not talking about being able to get the financing, I am talking about paying the mortgage. I won't spend more than 33 percent of my take home pay on rent or mortgage/insurance/upkeep. That gives me a budget of $500, that just isn't going to buy me anything around here outside of the ghetto.

That's it.  We gotta get you married to a woman who makes lots of scratch. 

Thats one reason I am saving, if I can HOPEFULLY marry a woman who doesn't come with a lot of debt, then we will be fairly set to do whatever we want to do, provided that I am making the financial decisions. Ideally we would purchase a house in a smaller/cheaper area with cash, and be family orientated, not career-orientated.

[Zakk]

Heh, don't limit yourself.

[Tailgunner]

Out of curiousity, when inquiring about the spot in that RV park did you tell the owner/manager what you had for an RV?

"Thats one reason I am saving, if I can HOPEFULLY marry a woman who doesn't come with a lot of debt..."

Heh, the toilet paper bills alone negate that possibility.

[paigeoliver]

Out of curiousity, when inquiring about the spot in that RV park did you tell the owner/manager what you had for an RV?

"Thats one reason I am saving, if I can HOPEFULLY marry a woman who doesn't come with a lot of debt..."

Heh, the toilet paper bills alone negate that possibility.

Nope, sure didn't. He didn't ask. I assume if he cared then he would have asked. From what I understand "What year" is pretty much the first thing out of the mouths of the park owners who have age restrictions on equipment.

Most of the stuff in the park is pretty old, I don't think there is a trailer there newer than about 1989. many are 70s vintage. There are a few newer RVs, but there is also one tiny little Dodge Van RV that is easily as old as mine. Mine is going to be the oldest Class A motorhome there though, easily, but there are only a few of them there, the park is 90 percent 70s-80s singlewide trailers.

Really, once you set the sucker up, unfurl the awnings, put a few potted plants and patio chairs up it isn't going to look any different than anyone elses.

[Tailgunner]

That's cool. Most RV parks around here have age restrictions which is why I asked.

[paigeoliver]

That's cool. Most RV parks around here have age restrictions which is why I asked.

Yes, which are of course anti-poor laws.

Chatter on the RV forums suggests that eventually there will end up being a class action lawsuit about age restrictions in RV and trailer parks and that they will end up going away.

Someone needs to set up a class action suit against the park owners for price gouging anyway, charging 66 percent of the price of a 2 bedroom apartment for a parking space and water/trash is real gouging. I'll eventually find another park, but this location is pretty nice, I might end up going way rural and moving to one of those $100 parks later on.

[USSEnterprise]

but dosent a cheaper park generally mean more 'trash'?

[Bones]

Someone needs to set up a class action suit against the park owners for price gouging anyway, charging 66 percent of the price of a 2 bedroom apartment for a parking space and water/trash is real gouging.

A trailer park would take up some land, land that might otherwise be developed residentially and sold for big dollars.

People who own parks would have to charge enough to offset the amount they could return if they chose to develop the land and then put the sale money in their bank accounts earning interest.

On top of this they have to cover the cost of maintenance, insurance, amenities, bad debts, loan repayments and then return enough to pay their wages and return a profit otherwise there would be no point in the exercise.

Where I live, my land is worth 2/3 of the total cost of my property. If this was a vacant block and I hired it out, just to break even I would have to charge an amount comparable to my total mortgage.

Food for thought.


 

[DrewKaree]

Someone needs to set up a class action suit against the park owners for price gouging anyway, charging 66 percent of the price of a 2 bedroom apartment for a parking space and water/trash is real gouging.

A trailer park would take up some land, land that might otherwise be developed residentially and sold for big dollars.

People who own parks would have to charge enough to offset the amount they could return if they chose to develop the land and then put the sale money in their bank accounts earning interest.

On top of this they have to cover the cost of maintenance, insurance, amenities, bad debts, loan repayments and then return enough to pay their wages and return a profit otherwise there would be no point in the exercise.

Where I live, my land is worth 2/3 of the total cost of my property. If this was a vacant block and I hired it out, just to break even I would have to charge an amount comparable to my total mortgage.

Food for thought.

The new eminent domain laws are starting to be understood by Aussies?  Heaven help us!

[paigeoliver]

Oh, I know the land has a value, but I live in the midwest, the land isn't worth much, if it was then there wouldn't be thousands and thousands of vacant frontage acres on the exact same road as the trailer park.

What I meant by gouging is the fact that the trailer park owner pours some concrete pads, runs utilities and is done with it. Sure you need to run the place, and you would have SOME maintenance (not much, as there isn't much anything to maintain other than the grass), but that is a far cry from an apartment owner who has to build actual buildings (and maintain THOSE) on the same spots.

I don't KNOW what either apartments or trailer spots cost to build, but I am going to guess that the cost per unit of 2 bedroom apartments is 10 or 20 times the cost per unit to build trailer pads.

[Bones]

Here's a suggestion then....

Could you buy one of those vacant blocks and set-up there with your motorhome? Does your council allow that?

At least then the money you are paying is going towards owning something that you can later sell or build on if you choose. 

[paigeoliver]

Here's a suggestion then....

Could you buy one of those vacant blocks and set-up there with your motorhome? Does your council allow that?

At least then the money you are paying is going towards owning something that you can later sell or build on if you choose. 

Oh of course not.

You have to go rural to set up a trailer or RV on your own land. Very few places in the vicinity of the bigger cities allow this.

With that said, I have been checking listing for rural land with electric. Found some lakeside lots with electric about an hour away from here, going from $4000-$6000.

That would be a definite possibility for me. The only utility I would NEED on my land would be electric. I wouldn't need water or sewer as long as I was conservative with my water (I'd have to go out once a month to dump the waste tanks and fill up my water tank).

[Tailgunner]

Oh of course not.

You have to go rural to set up a trailer or RV on your own land. Very few places in the vicinity of the bigger cities allow this.

With that said, I have been checking listing for rural land with electric. Found some lakeside lots with electric about an hour away from here, going from $4000-$6000.

That would be a definite possibility for me. The only utility I would NEED on my land would be electric. I wouldn't need water or sewer as long as I was conservative with my water (I'd have to go out once a month to dump the waste tanks and fill up my water tank).

If you were actually buying land, you'd do better to have a well and a septic tank dug. Both would directly add to the property value, and you could flush the toilet after every use.

[daywane]

to put your RV in your own land here in Lawrenceburg KY.
you have to buy 5 acres.  per unit!

[ChadTower]

5 acres of unused land here will run you $350,000.  Put a trailer on THAT.

[paigeoliver]

Got my plates on it today. Had to have an exhaust leak repaired to pass inspection though.

The guy who fixed the exhaust leak also pointed out a hairline crack in one of the exhaust manifolds that is going to have to be dealt with eventually. I'll wait until I have the sucker parked in the RV park before I attempt that repair.

[paigeoliver]

Oooh, even better, they actually make something for fixing those cracks without replacing the manifold! I do have to drill 2 holes and v-groove the crack, but after that I just fill it in, let it sit for a day or two, turn on the engine for 15 minutes, then let it cool down and sand it.

[ChadTower]

Is it in a spot you can get at without a lift?

[paigeoliver]

Is it in a spot you can get at without a lift?

Yes it is, you can crawl right under there, don't even have to take off the wheel if you don't want to.

[Stingray]

Keep considering rural property Paige. I bought five acres in 1996, and it will be paid off at about this time next year. I love living in the county. It's quiet, the air is nice & fresh, and nobody can tell you what you can and can't do on your own property (well, provided it't not actually illegal ).

-S

[DrewKaree]

I love living in the county. It's quiet, the air is nice & fresh, and nobody can tell you what you can and can't do on your own property (well, provided it't not actually illegal ).

-S

I never knew what a dairy cow screaming sounded like until that time we drove past some wooded lot in Oklahoma.  Chilling!  I guess that kind of stuff is only illegal in civilized parts of your state, hey? 

[Bones]

If I thought I could find work in the country and earn enough to have a comparable life style, I would jump so quick. I hate the city.

I can't think of a better place to raise kids and make small fury animals frightened.

[Avery]

I broke my self from the television habit years ago...

Amen brother!   

now I plan on breaking myself from the consumer habit as well. Too much of our money (and hence are life, as you trade a piece of your life for every dollar you spend), is spent on worthless junk

My New Years resolution was to not go to malls any more and, by and large, I've kept it with one or two exceptions where the thing I needed came from a place at the mall and nowhere else or the mall was the only reasonably handy place to get something quickly. 

Otherwise I haven't missed parking a mile away from the place where I want to do business so I could then pay extra so I could walk an extra few hundred yards in air conditioning past ficus trees missing most of their leaves.

[paigeoliver]

Yeah, in the last 10 years I have watched the housing prices in the neighborhood I live in double, while at the same time the neighborhood itself has been going downhill the whole time. In another 10 years all of North St. Louis county will be one continuous slum!! So I have no reason to stay in this area, I couldn't even begin to afford the areas that aren't turning into the suburban ghetto, so I am working on long term escape plans.

[paigeoliver]

This weekend I completely reupholstered the all the seats and cushions in some swank white vinyl. Not my first choice, but I was able to get more than enough of the stuff to do the whole thing for $40, any other vinyl color would have cost me $200, any of the automotive cloth uphosltery stuff would have ran me $300.

So, white vinyl it was, since the fabric place has 30 yards of it on their remnants table for $1.80 a yard, but somehow it was only $40.50 total with tax. Not sure why?

[Sephroth57]

pics?

[ChadTower]

OOF, white vinyl isn't going to age well.  I'd keep an eye on that remnants table if I were you.

I was at a classic car show with my kids yesterday, saw tons of 60s cars with perfect vinyl.  They HAD to be reupholstered.  I came upon a new respect for guys who can do that well.

How is it done?

[Stingray]

I love living in the county. It's quiet, the air is nice & fresh, and nobody can tell you what you can and can't do on your own property (well, provided it't not actually illegal ).

-S

I never knew what a dairy cow screaming sounded like until that time we drove past some wooded lot in Oklahoma.  Chilling!  I guess that kind of stuff is only illegal in civilized parts of your state, hey? 

Mind ya own bidness, city slicker!

-S

[paigeoliver]

I didn't use that thin hard automotive vinyl (which is hard to work with), I used the thick soft stuff. It was pretty easy, just sewing and staples.

I took some pictures, but they are still on my digital camera.

A lot of those cars actually might NOT have been reupholstered. I have owned, driven, and looked at plenty of older cars with 100,000-200,000 miles on them that still had perfect vinyl.

[ChadTower]

Every Ford I've ever seen that had vinyl seats had faded, cracked vinyl.  Plus, a lot of them had photo albums showing before and after photos showing that it had been done.

[Stingray]

I'm pretty envious of guys who can do that kind of upholstery work too. I can do the simple stuff like replace a set of seat covers or very simple door panels, but some of the custom stuff you see at shows is just mind blowing.

-S

[paigeoliver]

As you can see, I did mine quick and dirty. All the cushions came out really good, the bench seats, well, eh?

I am still working on my cheap refurb of this baby, but here is some before and after pics so far.

Before



After


 

[Kev-in DFW]

Nice job on those seats Paige, not perfect, but practical.  Won't win any vintage car show awards, but it beats the hell outta what you had!  I am waiting on the pics of the 9200 and Frankenpanel integration into the back socializtion area of the motorhome!

Nice job, it is coming along beautifully! 

Kev~

[ChadTower]

I see what you mean about eh... the first person with a huge ass that sits there is going to rip the fabric off one of those benches.  Still, that trailer is remarkably clean.  The ones I looked at in that age range when I was looknig a few years ago all were filthy, torn to crap, and smelled like they was used as kennels for chronic cigar smoking dogs.

[paigeoliver]

Nice job on those seats Paige, not perfect, but practical.  Won't win any vintage car show awards, but it beats the hell outta what you had!  I am waiting on the pics of the 9200 and Frankenpanel integration into the back socializtion area of the motorhome!

Nice job, it is coming along beautifully! 

Kev~

When I first started on those benches I spent about 4 hours just doing the bottom of one of them, I realized that it wasn't going to look all that hot no matter how hard I tried, so I did the other bottom and the two backs using a faster/sloppier method, which actually looked better.

Actually, I don't think the fabric on those benches is going anywhere, it is on there a lot better than it looks. I may actually pull them out and put them in my storage shed later on and stick a pair of chairs and a cocktail table there instead.

[Sephroth57]

so where do you sleep?

[ChadTower]

The shed!

[paigeoliver]

Every bit of visible seating pulls out, flips down, or otherwise turns into beds, there is also another one that drops down from the roof in teh cockpit area. Altogether there are 4 beds, one of them is HUGE (the table pops out of that U shaped couch and the whole thing turns into one big bed.

[Sephroth57]

so that whole table area fills in? thats awesome, i was gonna say, doesnt look like you got much room to get your groove on but that looks like its even better than my futon folded out

[ChadTower]

People may have had sex on your kitchen table, man.  People you don't know.

[Stingray]

People may have had sex on your kitchen table, man.  People you don't know.

Yeah, I totally only let people I know have sex on my kitchen table.

-S

[Sephroth57]

i had sex in my drummers hot tub yesterday, but he knows me its cool

[ChadTower]

Seriously, it would have been worse if you hadn't met him before you did him.

[JCL]

i had sex in my drummers hot tub yesterday, but he knows me its cool

So by "drummers hot tub" you mean you ---auto-censored--- him in his ---auto-censored---? Is that what you kids are calling it these days?

[paigeoliver]

Phase one of monitor install.

I opted to open up one of the closets, as the monitor was too big for a wall mount, and I would have lost a whole couch if I had tried to put it anywhere else.

I still have to put up a couple pieces of trim (and paint them) where I chopped out that wall.

As for the Mame control panel, it sits perfectly on that table and is the perfect height for gameplay. It will hang high up on the wall over one of the windows when not in use. I still need to put a non-slip surface on the bottom of it, and add hooks to hang it on the wall.

I also still need to run AC power to that closet (at the moment it has power to it, but it is 12 volt), and figure out where the computer is getting installed.

I haven't decided if I am going to remove that closet door, cut it down, or leave it like it is.

[USSEnterprise]

Thats a great looking setup, and an awesome looking CP. Why not pull the PC apart, build a shelf up in that cabinet, and fasten the motherboard, hard drive, power supply, and CD-ROM drive directly to the shelf.

[DrewKaree]

i had sex in my drummers hot tub yesterday, but he knows me its cool

If you think THAT was cool, just wait until it happens with another PERSON!

I bet the hot water makes those blisters feel a lot better than usual


Paige, if the monitor is in the closet, is that thing missing a side, or is it supposed to be an angled corner-type closet?  I can't really tell with all the white and no seams or anything to tip me off.

[paigeoliver]

The door to the closet is open, and I cut out half of one side of the wall. I think I am going to cut down the door into a smaller one and make it open into a teeny closet over the monitor.

[bossyman15]

if you could would you mind taking more pics of your RV (like the close up of cockpit and beds) 

[paigeoliver]

if you could would you mind taking more pics of your RV (like the close up of cockpit and beds) 

Sure, the controls are kind of weird, I have never driven a left hand drive vehicle that had the shifter on the left before. That is one of those things that is almost impossible to get used to. I can have my hand sitting on it while backing up, then I will take my right hand off the wheel and grab for an imaginary column shifter that isn't there when I want to put it in drive.

Of course I also tend to grab for the non-existant column shifter in vehicles that that have standard right hand floor shifters as well, as my last few vehicles have had it on the column.

[ChadTower]

Geesh, you've put a lot of time into this thing in a short period.   

[Bones]

<bump>

Paige's not here man.

[danny_galaga]

<bump>

Paige's not here man.

now THIS is a bump, metalhead!