I don't have the luxury of years researching everything I need to know to get started. Since I don't have roots and can work remotely, I want to hit the road ASAP. I can't seen to find a source that gives a concise and exhaustive how-to guide. I'm always left with questions. For instance:Everything I need to go off-grid? Basic equipment everyone should bring such as emergency repair kits, hatchets, saws, etc. ? The best way to find caravan groups to start out with?All the places you can safely & legally boondock?Also curious as to what you think the best rig is for a small signature and versatility?Is there a guide to must-see locales? Maybe a kind of itinerary on how to hit all of them?

Sorry to hear you’re losing your home. Presuming you’ve never camped before based on your questions. You’re planning on just going “off the grid”?Good luck working remotely off grid. Slow down and temper your plans a bit. You need a truck, big truck, set it up for a camper. You need a camper. The rest is basically personal effects. Oh and a generator.

Maybe start with reading a bunch of threads here. Very informative. Idk never seen a complete and exhaustive guide on how to do a 180 in living situation, immediately. Budget is a big part of it. If you’re not a camper and not a shade tree mechanic, then you need a rather large budget.

I went from a 26' travel trailer to a truck camper, full-time. I lasted from FL to WA (via TX) and traded it for a 23' travel trailer. I used the whole bedroom area for "stuff" and just left the u-shaped dinette into a bed. Loved traveling in it and it was great for day trips. A basic tool bag (kept in the truck) was sufficient along with a socket set. No room for saws.. never needed one anyway. No solar setup, although my camper was solar prepped. Main thing I learned was to get a camper to fit the truck and the allowed bed weight. I had TorkLifts.. a whole new world. I had no sway, not hard to drive, no rolling. I did put airbags on my 2500 gas truck, LB, CC.I got into horrendous winds in TX and did great with it. I got a Palomino Back Pack, hard side and it had everything. Must sees? Google things to do in xxxxxx… never at a loss for what to see.Good Luck and sorry on the house. Plan B is always good to have.

CMKelin wrote:Everything I need to go off-grid? You will need some way to recharge your battery(ies). Either a Generator or Solar. You can't rely on running the Truck to recharge the battery. If you plan to have a fridge and furnace, you'll need a decent sized battery bank. If you want to run the A/C, then you'll need a generator.Water would be the next big concern, where will you get it? Gas stations may not be too excited to see you filling up large tanks of water. You need to find where low cost or free sources of drinking water are. You also need to know where to dispose of the grey water and black water. Free dump stations are out there, but may not be where you want to be.Basic equipment everyone should bring such as emergency repair kits, hatchets, saws, etc. ? We always traveled with a set of mechanics tools, drill/driver, fuses and duct tape. The hatchet & saw would come in handy if you plan to have camp fires, but not really a necessity. If you plan to boondock alone and your truck doesn't have 4WD, then either a come-along or electric winch with a pull pal would be helpful.The best way to find caravan groups to start out with?Google search or Facebook Groups.All the places you can safely & legally boondock?We've used freecampsites.net. There is also campendium.com and probably countless others. Again, Google is your friend.-Michael

A truck camper doesn't need to be registered, so buy it in a tax free state like Delaware.

Losing home & need to immediately relocate to truck camper

37 Replies

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2020
You don’t need years to research but you do need a knowledgable friend to help you inspect a used any RV before purchase, and you need an adequate truck to carry the load. Rush and proceed without experienced help will waste your money. What is the total amount of funds you have available?
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Aug 01, 2020
CMKelin wrote:
I don't have the luxury of years researching everything I need to know to get started.
Since I don't have roots and can work remotely, I want to hit the road ASAP.
I can't seen to find a source that gives a concise and exhaustive how-to guide.
I'm always left with questions.

For instance:
Everything I need to go off-grid? Depends on where you are going, and what you will be doing. Able to work anywhere ? INternet required? If so unlimited data on a cell plan and use as a hotspot, or a stand alone. Otherwise you are tethered to unreliable wifi sources.

Basic equipment everyone should bring such as
emergency repair kits, hatchets, saws, etc. ? Basically what you are comfortable with, space and weight will be limiters, so trim down with that in mind, also get handy with a multi meter if you aren't already. Google "the 12 volt side of life" for help.

The best way to find caravan groups to start out with?

All the places you can safely & legally boondock?
You tube has a lot of material, from How to's to videos of specific campgrounds, the above is an example.
You Tube

Also curious as to what you think the best rig is for a small signature and versatility?
It depends on how far off the beaten track you want to go. For workspace as well as living, I would think a Travel trailer may be better suited, especially considering the ability to have larger tanks and an area to set up as a workspace.

Is there a guide to must-see locales? Maybe a kind of itinerary on how to hit all of them?
Back to you tube, input your interest in the search bar, and go as wild as you wish.
Lynnmor
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2020
A truck camper doesn't need to be registered, so buy it in a tax free state like Delaware.
mgirardo
Explorer
Aug 01, 2020
CMKelin wrote:

Everything I need to go off-grid?

You will need some way to recharge your battery(ies). Either a Generator or Solar. You can't rely on running the Truck to recharge the battery. If you plan to have a fridge and furnace, you'll need a decent sized battery bank. If you want to run the A/C, then you'll need a generator.

Water would be the next big concern, where will you get it? Gas stations may not be too excited to see you filling up large tanks of water. You need to find where low cost or free sources of drinking water are. You also need to know where to dispose of the grey water and black water. Free dump stations are out there, but may not be where you want to be.

Basic equipment everyone should bring such as
emergency repair kits, hatchets, saws, etc. ?

We always traveled with a set of mechanics tools, drill/driver, fuses and duct tape. The hatchet & saw would come in handy if you plan to have camp fires, but not really a necessity. If you plan to boondock alone and your truck doesn't have 4WD, then either a come-along or electric winch with a pull pal would be helpful.

The best way to find caravan groups to start out with?

Google search or Facebook Groups.

All the places you can safely & legally boondock?

We've used freecampsites.net. There is also campendium.com and probably countless others. Again, Google is your friend.

-Michael
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2020
I went from a 26' travel trailer to a truck camper, full-time. I lasted from FL to WA (via TX) and traded it for a 23' travel trailer. I used the whole bedroom area for "stuff" and just left the u-shaped dinette into a bed. Loved traveling in it and it was great for day trips.

A basic tool bag (kept in the truck) was sufficient along with a socket set. No room for saws.. never needed one anyway. No solar setup, although my camper was solar prepped. Main thing I learned was to get a camper to fit the truck and the allowed bed weight. I had TorkLifts.. a whole new world. I had no sway, not hard to drive, no rolling. I did put airbags on my 2500 gas truck, LB, CC.

I got into horrendous winds in TX and did great with it. I got a Palomino Back Pack, hard side and it had everything.

Must sees? Google things to do in xxxxxx… never at a loss for what to see.

Good Luck and sorry on the house. Plan B is always good to have.
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Aug 01, 2020
Maybe start with reading a bunch of threads here. Very informative.
Idk never seen a complete and exhaustive guide on how to do a 180 in living situation, immediately.

Budget is a big part of it. If you’re not a camper and not a shade tree mechanic, then you need a rather large budget.
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Aug 01, 2020
Sorry to hear you’re losing your home.
Presuming you’ve never camped before based on your questions.
You’re planning on just going “off the grid”?
Good luck working remotely off grid.
Slow down and temper your plans a bit.
You need a truck, big truck, set it up for a camper.
You need a camper.
The rest is basically personal effects.
Oh and a generator.

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Losing home & need to immediately relocate to truck camper

37 Replies

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