The box truck RV
by Guy V.
(havelock, NC)
My wife and I started off in Indianapolis, losing the home, the business, etc. Brian's site proved an inspiration when we decided to chuck it all and hit the road. Problem was, we didn't have a lot of money. So we started looking on ebay for a used bus. Long story short, the bus we bought crapped out before we even left.
So we started the search again. This time we purchased a 1987 Chevy, g-30, box truck. In with cabinets that I custom built (I am a custom carpenter by trade), in with a couple of golf cart batteries, an inverter and all hook ups and fuses, and off we went to Bloomington, IN. There I built the beds and a bunch of shelving and such, and bought a trailer to haul my Moto Guzzi Jackal and my tools of the trade.
We left Bloomington in April, and broke down in Tazewell, TN. Transmission crapped out on us. We had it replaced with a used transmission (bad idea) because it was cheaper. Off we go to NC, and transmission went again. This time, we had it entirely rebuilt (700R4 tranny).
It's been great since then, and we are just waiting to leave Havelock, NC. Should be leaving for North Dakota in a couple of weeks.
The money we spent on repairs was our traveling money, so it has held us up while we wait for the stipend from my wife's disability check. We want to begin our adventures again with "no worries, and shining times" as Brian would say.
Sometimes it takes a catalyst to make you do something, and I am no exception. My wife had a brain aneurysm in Indianapolis 5 yrs. ago and has been disabled ever since.
We had decided that life was much to short to try to maintain the house and business. And after the economy swoop last year, life seemed even shorter.
I'm probably way off subject with all of this, just wanted to share that I am now a 12 volt semi "specialist" that I learned the hard way. I did all the hook ups and wire runs myself, and learned a lot in the process.
If you are gonna boondock, this is stuff ya need to know, and you can probably do it all yourself no matter your electrical experience. And ya won't have to spend a bunch of money at the RV repair center.
***ed. note*** I was his inspiration?... Folks like this are Mine! ... the way you "Get there"... is to refuse to quit... humbles a fella to see folks taking life by the tail and shakin' that sucker! :o)
