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Anyone lived out of a car?

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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I got a job in Nevada for a core drilling company, where I'll work 20 days on and 10 days off a month. The company is paying an extra $700 a week to cover a hotel, food, and other expenses. I was thinking we have an old Chevy Suburban that isn't a daily driver for anyone in my family, maybe I could take the back seats out, throw a mattress in there and pocket the money I would be spending on a hotel, maybe to take it up to Hood even.

Thoughts? Anyone done something similar? The most obvious problem I see is no running water/bathroom, and I might have to pay for a camping site or something?
May 1 2012 1:12PM
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PopsicleStand
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 147
Yup, and as you said, the hardest part is getting clean. Truck stops, if they are clean and not murderous and sexually deviant, are good for showers etc. Always wear flip flops. I lived out of the back of my 4runner. It was pretty much like camping. I would do it if its for the summer or something... Sorry if you specified how long it was for and I just didnt read.
May 1 2012 1:19PM
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Lansfield
Posts: 2708 - Karma: 321
Go for it. Watch that TC episode and get all the latest car living tricks and tips from Erik Olson
May 1 2012 1:19PM
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PopsicleStand
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 147
And if you mean take the suburban up to hood, then yes I agree with that as well. I lived out of my 4runner at Mt. Baker for a week or so.

Click for larger image
May 1 2012 1:21PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Did you find a convenient way to cook?
May 1 2012 1:21PM
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PopsicleStand
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 147
Camp stove with oatmeal and soups (beans, vegetables, all kinds of canned stuff). Peanut butter and bread. Leftovers from the lodge when they were closing. Beer. Canned sardines, tuna, stuff like that.

Now I stayed up on the mountain for the most part. If you live down in society then you could probably feed yourself much easier.
May 1 2012 1:26PM
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cubber
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 638
Find a rec center and shower there, eat p&j's, profit
May 1 2012 1:43PM
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northeast
Posts: 2119 - Karma: 254
peanut butter is your best friend for cheap eating. fills you up real quick, and I've never seen peanut butter go bad.
May 1 2012 1:50PM
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blackmamba.
Posts: 969 - Karma: 56
And what if they ask for receipts? Better have someone vouch for you or something. Just saying.
May 1 2012 1:52PM
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soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
before you delve too far into it, i would get the ok from the powers that be

May 1 2012 1:58PM
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Daoust
Posts: 487 - Karma: 103
I figured if I ever got to that point id get a local gym membership. this way you've got something to do in your spare time and you have access to showers. a lot of gyms are 24/7 as well so you'd be able to shower anytime
May 1 2012 1:59PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
I've always thought of getting a national chain gym membership and seeing how it goes. Then you can get really good showers anywhere.
No idea how much that'd cost though.
May 1 2012 2:02PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,550
Done it, not that bad. Depends on the length of stay and the weather, what kind of car.



If you aren't THAT tall and have a decent sized car it's not that bad. The worst part really is that you get out from work, and you have no home to go to. Basically you just have time to kill. If you like reading and shit like that it's not bad. Maybe park somewhere you have wifi.

You'll figure out a legit arangement pretty quick. Once you get a system going it's just another home.
May 1 2012 2:03PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Nope. Once a week you get $700 transferred to your account or a check depending on how you want them to set up your pay. The guy that told me about the job brings a trailer down and essentially does what I'm planing on doing. Only cushier.
May 1 2012 2:07PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,550
IS that 700 a week just for hotel and foo? Or is that everything?

That would be the dankest job ever if that was on top but either way sounds decent.


How long are you doing this for? More than a couple months you'll prolly start to get pissed off.

Honestly renting even a couch from someone for like 100-200 a month is worth it sometimes. Having somewhere to go to kill time. A shower, bathroom. Being able to get better sleep.



Just somethings to think about. IF you're getting 700 a week, that's about 3k a month. Out of that 3k, dropping some on a place to live can be well worth it. That's the main reason most people have apartment instead of living in their cars.


Even if it's just a month that's a long time to make it in your car.

Good luck either way
May 1 2012 2:08PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Definitely the first month I'll just do the hotel thing and scope out the practicality of car living.
May 1 2012 2:10PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,550
derp
May 1 2012 2:12PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,550
How much is the hotel?


If they have a deal worked out it might be pretty cheap. Otherwise not so much. It's great for short term and paycheck to paycheck, but if you're getting paid real money, it's not bad to find a space with someone and get a decent home for a good price and have somewhere nice to kick it.


May 1 2012 2:14PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
After working a 12 hour day, I think the only thing I'll do in my free time will be eat and sleep.
And the pay is $16/hour for the first 8 hours, then $20 the last four of overtime
May 1 2012 2:21PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
easy just go to truck stops/befriend someone to use there shower i did it for about 4 months.
May 1 2012 2:22PM
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sugar~glider
Posts: 142 - Karma: 13
700 a week? im paying 375 a month to rent half a house for myself. just get a decent apartment and youll still have plenty left over.
May 1 2012 2:25PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
The guy mentioned above said hotels in the area are about $45 a night. Once I talk to him again and remember what the towns called maybe a fellow newschooler has a couch I can crash on?
The plan for right now is do it for the summer then go to school and do it again the next summer, or take another year off, keep drilling and gain residency in California while living in Tahoe on my time off, and go to school down there next year with around 40k in my pocket. I'm a little worried I'll keep put school off.
May 1 2012 2:34PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,550
Hotels that have people staying long term offer weekly rates.

I basically hit both sides of the coin with my posts. It's doable if you really want to, but if you're working long fucking hours all week, you're going to want somewhere to go take a shower,and just crash and get comfy after.


Basically just depends on how much it's worth to you. Fuck you could prolly set up a tent in someones back yard for 200 bucks for the summer and use their bathroom.

May 1 2012 2:46PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I think the idea was cool, but the practicality is making it all less likely. But still, I think this would be cool to take on ski trips, and I might still set it all up and take it to hood sometime this summer.

Anyone have pictures of there ski mobile set up? I know I've seen a couple of vans turned ski bum home on here before.
May 1 2012 3:08PM
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Double-U
Posts: 93 - Karma: 74
You wont get pussy living out of your car...
May 1 2012 3:12PM
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SnowshoeThompson
Posts: 1095 - Karma: 1,433
get an inflatable sleeping pad, like one for camping, with a nice sleeping bag and you will be set. Seeing as its Nevada I highly doubt you will need to pay for a camp spot. I would almost rather sleep in my car in some situations. Personally, I would get a room like once a week or so to shower/do laundry.
May 1 2012 3:15PM
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blackmamba.
Posts: 969 - Karma: 56
kk if you can find a place to shower or whatever, do it up.
May 1 2012 3:25PM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
oh yes you can.
May 1 2012 3:41PM
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Shark.
Posts: 3158 - Karma: 270
i gots a question, how did you land said job? I've been thinking of doing the exact same thing trying to get a job on one of the rigs
May 1 2012 4:25PM
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SpaghettiWizard
Posts: 2825 - Karma: 166
Do it.
May 1 2012 4:34PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
ummmmmmmmmm how about NO.

inflatable mattresses are the worst thing if you are sleeping in a car. when it gets cold, those things will suck every last bit of heat out of you! just use a foam sleeping pad or 2 with a bag on top
May 1 2012 4:40PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21671 - Karma: 4,158
I did it for a semester, parked right infront of my apt and had a good time. totally suggest it
May 1 2012 5:14PM
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alex=
Posts: 1738 - Karma: 2,835
1. Buy dinky, cheap truck
2. Buy truck bed camper
3. Drive ---> Nevada
4. ???????
5. $700/week

:DDDDDDDDDDD
May 1 2012 5:25PM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
SKIP TO 3:00 FOR WHAT LIVING OUT OF A CAR IS LIKE



May 1 2012 5:38PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
I've only slept in my car for one night at a time when I was too drunk to drive, but it's not bad at all, and I have an Impreza Outback. You could really stretch out in a suburban. Are there any state forests/natural areas (not parks where you would have to camp in the campground) near where you're working? In most states, you can camp pretty much indefinitely in them without being bothered for free. You could also do truck stop/walmart parking lots, but i would rotate between a few so they don't catch on.

Your only real thing to worry about will be getting clean, but if there's a YMCA or one of those big truck stops nearby with showers. State parks work too, just get an annual pass for like $20 or whatever.
May 1 2012 5:57PM
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jibmeisterflex
Posts: 719 - Karma: 63
Do what Chris Pontius did in the video above but put a bed in the bed of the truck that would be all good then just get a local gym membership.
May 1 2012 6:23PM
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Radio
Posts: 946 - Karma: 12

ummmmmmmmm air is great for insulation.

May 1 2012 6:46PM
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anomalous
Posts: 87 - Karma: 15
Spent the last 2 summers on gas wells in northern PA. Worked 14 days on and 7 off with 12 hour shifts.

You are correct in saying there is little time for anything other than eating and sleeping while working those hours. You can give the car a shot but honestly with the money you are making it is going to be way easier on you just to shell some out for a hotel/apartment for the summer.
May 1 2012 7:19PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
my buddy had an expidition...thing was ginormous and easily would be comoftable for one person. Definatly get a gym membership because what the hell else will you do and shower, etc. If your working that much non stop your only going to be going back, sleeping, eating, then repeat. Worth it for the money
May 1 2012 7:29PM
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.monster.
Posts: 99 - Karma: 11
Usually Nevada is not the most expensive place to rent especially because it is most likely near Elko and a nice bed, shower, tv,internet place to cook some good food is something nice after a 12hr day of drilling vs cooking on a camp stove
May 1 2012 8:34PM
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DubV134
Posts: 1541 - Karma: 690
this. you're going to be making bank but working in dirt, dont sleep in dirt also
May 1 2012 8:39PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Basically I'm rethinking the whole work out of the car thing, but we should still turn this into a car living tips and experiences thread, because I'd still like to take a trip out to hood this summer and live out of the Suburban for like a week.
May 1 2012 9:49PM
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ElMexicano
Posts: 639 - Karma: 400
You should find a cheap camper or trailer and pull it.
May 2 2012 12:10AM
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Static
Posts: 8561 - Karma: 4,139
i lived in an Expedition for over a month in the winter, wasn't bad at all, just kinda sucks not having anywhere to stand around or sit(except the front seat). It's pretty much get in and go to sleep.
May 2 2012 12:18AM
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ElMexicano
Posts: 639 - Karma: 400
I was thinking about this thread again and maybe see if there are places to camp near by and get one of those big tents thats basically like a small house and a cot. you'd be set
May 3 2012 1:34AM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
Just saying, if you plan on picking up any bitches they probably aren't going to be down with a sleepover in your suburban, however roomy and cushy it may be.
May 3 2012 3:20AM
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sugar~glider
Posts: 142 - Karma: 13
false statement is false.
May 3 2012 3:30AM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
nope. you're an idiot. air has a very low specific heat, therefore acting as a radiator with your body heat, thus making you freezing if the car is cold, which it will be.
May 3 2012 12:08PM
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SnowshoeThompson
Posts: 1095 - Karma: 1,433
why are you so upset?
All of the pads i've seen are insulated for that specific reason.
I sleep on an inflatable pad with a sleeping bag every time i sleep in my car and its actually pretty nice.


May 10 2012 3:58PM
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TheGnarwhal
Posts: 871 - Karma: 49
Easy as anything.. Just remember not to clear snow off the roof if you're not going to be moving, it's a great insulator. I had a buddy who actively packed his car in as much as he could and dug a tunnel to get to the door, like an igloo.
May 10 2012 4:02PM
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