New Wheels

Announcement: In March, I bought a van. Right now it’s at a local shop to remove the seat rails from the floor, and the headliner from the roof. This is necessary disassembly before I get it ready for camping.

Purchased from Pahrump Chevrolet on March 7, 2020.

Prius’ Future: I will keep my Prius because I really love it and will continue to use it as much as possible. The Prius will be my vacation “cottage” 😊.

Although the van is larger, I hope to maintain a minimalist lifestyle.

Reasons for a Van: I've always considered myself living out of the Prius except to drive, sleep, do personal hygiene, and for storage. Since I started my work with Homes On Wheels Alliance (HOWA), however, I'm inside a lot more to use the computer. So, I find myself not setting up my kitchen to cook, nor standing up and moving about as much. Plus, I have a cargo trailer that I can't tow. (Many thanks to my assistant Phyllis for pulling it when used for HOWA business.)

The headliner will be removed to put on a 16" fiberglass high top from
http://Fiberine.com  I'll be able to stand up inside to cook!

The Purchase: For those 3 reasons -- to cook, stand, and tow – I started looking for a van about a year ago. One of my search criteria was to find a van from a private party in NV to avoid dealer prices and sales tax. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find one from a private seller. So, I finally broke down and got a van from the Pahrump Chevrolet dealer. Except for the higher costs, the buying experience was a positive one.

Before we took all of the bench seats out.

Other Pros & Cons: Although I plan to keep my minimalist lifestyle, I will still incur additional costs with the van. Fuel usage will be much greater than the Prius. Plus, I'll need to purchase and install a solar power system to keep devices charged, loosing that benefit of the Prius as well. My insurance and registration costs increase, as does my carbon footprint. But, the van has much higher ground clearance to go further into the back country which I love. And, I now have room for a dog companion when the time is right.

The floor after taking out the bench seats, and before
 the rails (under carpet) are removed. 

The Build: I plan to do a no-build build by using furnishings I already have. I’ll try different configurations until I find the best set-up for me and my needs. Unfortunately, removing the bench seat attachments from the floor, and taking down the headliner with its air bags has been a challenge. Thankfully, I found a local shop to do that prep work for me.

Here are some details:

• 2016 Chevrolet Express Passenger Van RWD 2500 LT
• White, Regular Wheelbase, 36000 miles
• 6.0L V8 Vortec engine, 6-speed heavy-duty automatic transmission for towing
• Passenger van for windows all around, 6 of the 10 windows open
• Regular wheelbase for a tighter turning radius than an extended length
• Purchased with funds from my cashed-out Roth IRA, owned by myself (not HOWA)
• Plan to:
• Mount running boards,
• Install a hitch to tow my 6x10' cargo trailer,
• Keep all windows unobstructed to retain my view and connection to the outside,
• Make curtains and screens for privacy and airflow without bugs,
• Insulate interior plastic panels and trim, as possible,
• Have a plywood floor put in, secured to van floor, and covered with sheet vinyl,
• Do a no-build build with items purchased when I tried living in my cargo trailer,
• Attach furniture and other items to plywood floor for safety,
• Purchase a Fiberine 16" Aerodynamic High-Top, reinforced for storage, solar & roof vent,
• Get a 100W solar power system to charge 12v electronics (no fridge or 110v items), and
• Store my Prius in Pahrump for errands, and for long and/or fun trips.

In Closing:  I’ve camped in lots of different ways. I’ve been mobile living out of my Prius since 2009, full-time since 2017. In addition, I’ve camped under the stars, in tents, a teardrop trailer, Class C motorhome, and a converted cargo trailer. So far nothing has suited me like the Prius. Although well thought out, transitioning into this van still comes with some unknowns. So, I consider this new situation an exploration of possibilities and comfort. My hope is that it’ll be a good fit for me.