12-18-2018, 08:58 PM
I just went from a lifetime of stationwagons to a cargo van, and know what you mean about transitioning to a truck!!! 
Got plenty of great advice from GypsyDogs, and a stressful cross-country intro, but am finally feeling cautiously comfortable.
Just take it easy, be 1000 times more cautious & deliberate.
Park farther out where there's fewer vehicles.
If at all possible, park so you won't have to back up.
For example, yesterday I pulled into a Dollar Tree parking lot without carefully scoping it out... and almost immediately realized it was far too tight & crowded for my skill level. Carefully backed out, and parked at the almost empty, much larger lot at the bank across an alley.
Definitely check out the youtube channel "Element Van Life".
He's very methodical... and a sweetie.
That was among the YT channels that I found very useful in general, and if I were just "living out of", would have considered an Element. You nailed it: roomy for an SUV!
It comes across as an excellent starter vehicle for living out of.
When I started experimenting with living in my wagon, last summer, I bought a cheap knockoff of a Thermarest inflatable pad, and that was an excellent cheap way to try out things.
Experiment, and pick folks' brains, both here and elsewhere.
Got plenty of great advice from GypsyDogs, and a stressful cross-country intro, but am finally feeling cautiously comfortable.
Just take it easy, be 1000 times more cautious & deliberate.
Park farther out where there's fewer vehicles.
If at all possible, park so you won't have to back up.
For example, yesterday I pulled into a Dollar Tree parking lot without carefully scoping it out... and almost immediately realized it was far too tight & crowded for my skill level. Carefully backed out, and parked at the almost empty, much larger lot at the bank across an alley.
Definitely check out the youtube channel "Element Van Life".
He's very methodical... and a sweetie.
That was among the YT channels that I found very useful in general, and if I were just "living out of", would have considered an Element. You nailed it: roomy for an SUV!
It comes across as an excellent starter vehicle for living out of.
When I started experimenting with living in my wagon, last summer, I bought a cheap knockoff of a Thermarest inflatable pad, and that was an excellent cheap way to try out things.
Experiment, and pick folks' brains, both here and elsewhere.
"Cause how you get there is the worthier part." Shephard Book to Kaylee, Firefly
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2019-Dec update:
I've escaped Winter!
2019-Dec update:
I've escaped Winter!
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