Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Hey from Long Island, NY
#1
Just joined this forum the other day. Smile

You could say I'm on hiatus from vehicular living - I've been living in (more or less Rolleyes)"normal" housing for the past 6 or so years.
My entry into the wild world of vehicle dwelling actually began about 20 years ago, and was more an act of desperation than anything else.
Let's put it this way: "Ya had to be there".  It's actually a pretty harrowing tale, involving ebay, credit cards, ebay again, more credit cards,
Amtrak, (passing out from exhaustion and almost accidentally winding up at the Canadian border without a passport), a return trip via a
`73 Dodge, 19' class C RV in unknown/questionable condition, a stop 60 miles east to pick up the *required*(by my insurance company) 2nd
"vehicle", an `83 Suzuki class B moped, and finally, the long, nail-biting, woozy-from-lack-of-sleep trip "home", back to Long Island, stopping WAY too many times for gas(turns out this little piggie got only 4mpg!), praying my credit cards kept working(they did), praying the RV didn't break down(it sorta did, but it was super-minor and by that time I had made it to Nassau County, LI), and in general, praying the trip would be uneventful(uhm, not quite - a gentle encounter between the right side of my RV - where the humongous, built-in propane tank valve was located, and a guard rail at about 50mph caused a stream of sparks, which I could see in my right-side mirror in the night).  Fortunately, nothing Bad happened.  I was woozy from being up for 36 hours and counting, and would've stopped in one of the many rest areas I passed on the way down, but it was quite cold, I only had the coat that I was wearing, no blankets, and couldn't grep getting the heat going in the RV, so just chose to keep going.  Turns out, the propane heater didn't work(same with the fridge), but the propane tank was full, and if I had the presence of mind at the time, I could have simply fired up 1 or 2 of the burners on the stove, and caught some ZZzzzz at a rest area.  Live and learn I guess.

Anyways, I made it back to Suffolk County, relieved to be back in home territory, tempered by the realization that I was now, Officially homeless for the first time in my 40-something years.

The "adventure" didn't end there, though.  "Part Deaux" was just beginning. Rolleyes

Anyways, I'm rambling and will stop now.  My name is Paul and I'm currently on eastern Long Island.
Reply
#2
Welcome to the forum. Older RVs usually make for stories to tell around the campfire. My first one was a 30 yo class C so I understand.
Reply
#3
welcome to the site,yea,it's best to have a little prep time,just jumping in a vehicle and trying to live can be hard
Reply
#4
(05-16-2021, 07:55 AM)Shadowmoss Wrote: Welcome to the forum.  Older RVs usually make for stories to tell around the campfire.  My first one was a 30 yo class C so I understand.

This one actually ran rather well.  It had 68k original miles and 6 brand new tires, which at least made for some peace of mind during the trip.
Reply
#5
(05-16-2021, 08:15 AM)Blacktank Wrote: welcome to the site,yea,it's best to have a little prep time,just jumping in a vehicle and trying to live can be hard

The dealer met me at Buffalo-DePuy Amtrak station, drove me to the local DMV where I registered it.  By that time, it was late afternoon, quite cold, and soon to get dark, so no time for prep.
Reply
#6
Blankets. With warm blankets you can sleep anywhere.
Compared to parenting, Cat herding is less complicated
Reply
#7
(05-16-2021, 10:55 AM)GotSmart Wrote: Blankets. With warm blankets you can sleep anywhere.

Yes, if I had thought to BRING them along on the train ride.  But after registering the RV, it was getting late(and soon to be dark on a late Fall afternoon), the average person did not own(or likely even hear of) a GPS, there were no smart phones. and no obvious places within easy driving distance where I could purchase blankets.  Besides, I had to head 60 miles east to another ebay seller's house to pick up a moped before it got too late.  I was also facing a several hundred mile ride in an unfamiliar vehicle I have zero experience driving(anything that large)
on totally unfamiliar roads.  My priority was making it back to Long Island in one piece, ASAP.
Reply
#8
Welcome aboard Paul
Hopefully you'll find some of the answers you seek here somewhere,
A lot has already been posted , do some exploring and ask questions as you get them.

Try a different insurance company ?...in Vermont , then it will match the plates.
(cops like that kind of thing)
stay tuned 
  Cool
Reply
#9
Holy cow Paul. I can’t wait for part two. Hopefully your luck has now changed.

Hubby and I are in ky right now until it starts getting cold then we will head west. What are your plans?
monkeyfoot
Reply
#10
Welcome from the international NOMAD chapter. I see you were asking about YARC on another thread. This has probably been explained to you by now. I’ll leave it up to the rest of the ones with power to decide if part one was enough or if they need to read part two.

Back in those days showing up in Canada without a passport would’ve been just fine. We have said hello and let you in. Lol.

After 911 the border requirements changed.

Welcome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)