College Student & Full Time"RV" Living
I'm a full time college student as the thread title says, but I'm looking to purchase and convert a Ford Econoline style cargo van into a mini-RV. I live in Pierce county Washington but I'm going to b...
Forum Discussion
OK, this will be my last post on this since you don't seem to be retaining or understanding much of what I write. Maybe because it's new to you...
Those AGM batteries you linked to have 190A of reserve capacity. That is not usable AH's at the 20 HR rate, the typical standard used for measuring battery capacity. At most, they have 110AH at the 20 HR rate. If you have three of these batteries you will have usable capacity of a bit less than 165 AH. That capacity is less than what you've estimated and you are going to use either all of that or more. You would be better served by using 6V GC2 golf cart batteries in a vented enclosure.
Trying to use an extension cord for AC power without any provision for circuit protection or safety is just dangerous and silly, considering the costs. What happens when the door of the van swings shut from the wind and pinches the cord against the chassis? If you plan to drill a hole for the cord, it is an additional $20 for a load center with a couple of circuit breakers.
I would call Flying J before making a reservation for a year. They might not be open to that idea.
You plan on doing as close to nothing as possible to make the small box you will have become "home". You're not concerned with heating and cooling, nor sanitation, storage, or general living conditions. With your health conditions, I would estimate your stay in this miserable box to be less than two weeks. If you have a few years of living in the sleeper of a cab, maybe longer but not much. I think what you will find is that you are living to support the van and it's primitive systems, having only basic survival-rated comfort.
FWIW, at the ripe age of 18 I bought a step van with the same ideas you have in mind. I lived in the van for a few months and then abandoned that lifestyle. I found it limiting on a lot of levels. The final straw was a break-in that removed any of the luster that was still remaining on my plans. I did buy two more step vans but used them for travel and recreation.
Before you commit to spending those loan dollars on this van living, I would look at all other options open to you so that a successful completion of your college education is foremost. That may be a relocation and sharing a rental close to campus, a solution that proves successful for a lot of college students.
Good luck on your schooling!
Those AGM batteries you linked to have 190A of reserve capacity. That is not usable AH's at the 20 HR rate, the typical standard used for measuring battery capacity. At most, they have 110AH at the 20 HR rate. If you have three of these batteries you will have usable capacity of a bit less than 165 AH. That capacity is less than what you've estimated and you are going to use either all of that or more. You would be better served by using 6V GC2 golf cart batteries in a vented enclosure.
Trying to use an extension cord for AC power without any provision for circuit protection or safety is just dangerous and silly, considering the costs. What happens when the door of the van swings shut from the wind and pinches the cord against the chassis? If you plan to drill a hole for the cord, it is an additional $20 for a load center with a couple of circuit breakers.
I would call Flying J before making a reservation for a year. They might not be open to that idea.
You plan on doing as close to nothing as possible to make the small box you will have become "home". You're not concerned with heating and cooling, nor sanitation, storage, or general living conditions. With your health conditions, I would estimate your stay in this miserable box to be less than two weeks. If you have a few years of living in the sleeper of a cab, maybe longer but not much. I think what you will find is that you are living to support the van and it's primitive systems, having only basic survival-rated comfort.
FWIW, at the ripe age of 18 I bought a step van with the same ideas you have in mind. I lived in the van for a few months and then abandoned that lifestyle. I found it limiting on a lot of levels. The final straw was a break-in that removed any of the luster that was still remaining on my plans. I did buy two more step vans but used them for travel and recreation.
Before you commit to spending those loan dollars on this van living, I would look at all other options open to you so that a successful completion of your college education is foremost. That may be a relocation and sharing a rental close to campus, a solution that proves successful for a lot of college students.
Good luck on your schooling!
