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Many people traveling are trying to escape something. Traveling for that reason frequently doesn't help them to escape, and, in turn they turn to drugs and alcohol to escape. All that is, is a temporary illusion. And worse, if one gets addicted, they just created another "prison" they will need...

You're smart to think things over before hitting the road... All too often, people head out without any forethought, and then get into bad situations. Hopefully you're doing more research and saving a bankroll of cash. I can't stress being sure you will have enough money to sustain yourself...

There aren't a lot of people who use them anymore. If you get one for free, like the OP, then it's worth it to have, as on the Interstates the traffic reports can be handy. In the event of a breakdown you could probably get help as well. If you go out and spend a lot of money on one, well, you...

I haven't heard of people being harassed, sometimes told to move on by a ranger who's had it with everyone, but that's about it. Mostly, keep up on the laws, keep your RV clean, and more importantly, your campsite clean and tidy, and look like the average RV'er and you should be just fine.

I'm all for fixing stuff, but there comes a point where you have to consider your time... Your time, as you are no doubt aware, is your most valuable asset on this planet. Rather than buying stuff to reseal an inexpensive tent, and stressing out over where to do it, and spending that amount of...

Try to cut expenses wherever you can. THINK about each and every purchase, then save every penny you can. Do that for as long as you can, until you are sure you want to get back on the road, and have enough for the vehicle, AND an emergency fund. The last thing you want if you return to the road...

I wonder how this will impact those who lost their homes and are living in tents and RVs?

You can try as hard as you can to open other people's eyes, but if their mind is closed, it is closed. If they believe what they are spoon fed, then they are stuck in the Matrix. If they don't want out, you can't pry them out, so don't even bother. I've seen news crews being very careful to...

I've never been much into hitchhiking, but going into lesser known areas is a favorite pastime of mine. How long to stay depends on the person, if you have a bankroll, and the town/city. If there's not much to see or do, move on fast. If you're broke and there's no work, the same applies. Also...

You will need a sleeping bag, or as others said, you won't sleep, you will be in for a night of misery. You should also have an emergency "space" blanket, but don't count on it solely, as they will sweat you to death before you know it, and they are rather fragile. I advocate them JIC someone...

Once, I was traveling cross-country in very old Class-B motorhome, and the short story, it died. I didn’t have a lot of cash then, as I hadn’t yet learned the importance of an emergency fund, but a guy came along and offered to give me a tow to his nearby farm, as he said he used to be an auto...

I didn't see paracord on there, I would add that. Ditch the fence cutters; climb, or go around, don't destroy.

Check for leaks NOW -- find them BEFORE a rainstorm in the middle of a cold night! Buy a set of jumper cables; you'll thank me the first time you use them! Get a basic set of tools, better quality is best. The more you can repair the more money you will keep in your pocket later. Check your...

For whatever reason I always seem to find a lot of lost stuff, and am constantly picking things up from the ground that are of value (coins, cash, jewelry, tools, etc.) When I found $200 in cash on the ground, right after finding $40 in cash on the ground, some friends started calling me "Ground...

It depends entirely upon where you plan on staying and the weather conditions there. And in many areas of the country, mosquitos are a real pain, a tent really can make life easier, although there is mosquito netting, if those are the only problem.

Most businesses you ask will be a "no" on permission, either due to liability, or the owner not being available. Churches are generally great about saying "yes." Private property can be a mixed bag, but if you're upfront, assure them you won't leave any trash behind, and explain what you are...

Ignore those now hiring signs; they usually are either jobs that no one wants (for good reason), or just BS to get someone who is over-qualified, while they reject 99% of applicants. Flagstaff is known for cracking down on people living in vehicles, panhandling, and just about anything else...

Ground scores are my specialty... My biggest score in cash was $200, four $50 bills folded up nicely just laying on the ground. Just the other day I found a $20 bill on the floor while in the grocery store, and two silver dimes in the reject bin of the CoinStar. ALWAYS check the reject bin on...

Be careful planning to sustain yourself solely from the land; if you don't know what you're doing, it's a quick way to end up dead. Consult some local experts on the subject if you can, spend time at the local library reading up on the subject. And know in some areas it just isn't practical or...

This sounds like a pretty cool idea, but I would look into the reason the ghost town became just that, and property taxes, That one might be your deal breaker. However, as long as you check out the legal stuff, a small but dedicated group of people can accomplish just about anything, as long...

If people don't respect you or your property, they aren't your friends, nor are they anyone you should associate with. People like that will try to bring you down, bust up things, steal stuff, etc. There is FAR too much bad shit in this world to allow negative disrespectful people into yours...

No matter what tires you get, unless they are run-flats make sure you get a good patch kit, and a small 12-volt DC powered air compressor, along with an air gauge. While you're at it, make sure you have a flashlight or headlamp, as the one time you don't is the one time you will have a flat in...

Danner boots are some of the best you can buy, but they aren't cheap! They are VERY well made, extremely comfortable, and very durable. No matter what boots you get, also get some thin socks, put those on, then put on your regular socks. You'll get few, if any blisters ever again.

If a sleeping bag is too bulky, and it's not insanely cold, a simple lightweight fleece blanket is very useful, and cardboard can be found near almost any dumpster or behind stores for use as insulation from the ground and for providing basic padding. A space blanket is cheap, very small and...

Get the ground sheet; it's worth the protection. The first time you end up with a tear in the floor of a tent and spend time patching it, you'll wish you had gotten a ground sheet. Save yourself the stress. If you can't find one specific to your tent, compare dimensions with others; see if you...

Inflatable is just not durable enough; one mistake and it gets punctured. Plus they tend to get cold easily. Go for the foam; it won't let you down when you need it, and can easily serve you for years.

The best you can do is deter theft. Small locks, cable locks, etc. Those will stop the typical grab and run thief, which most are. Obviously, those are easily defeated by even the smallest pair of bolt cutters, or oftentimes wire cutters, etc. For a while I had a cable lock with a...

Quick tip on most paywall sites: Whenever you hit one, close your browser to start with a new one and hit the "x" or "stop" button as soon as ANY text starts to load. This will allow you to bypass most paywalls, as long as they come after the article starts loading. - You won't get photos...

When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car. Sorry, I couldn't resist that one, as I suspect this thread could use some levity, as it's a pretty heavy topic... Anyway, as for me, peacefully in my sleep, of...

I use the Gerber Gator fixed blade knife, it's lightweight at just over 5 ounces, tough as nails and is built to last. When it comes to pocketknives I use the Victorinox Swiss Army "Farmer" Pocket Knife. As for multi-tools, it's hard to beat a Leatherman, a bit pricey, and sometimes hard to pick...

I use the Gerber Gator fixed blade knife, it's lightweight at just over 5 ounces, tough as nails and is built to last. When it comes to pocketknives I use the Victorinox Swiss Army "Farmer" Pocket Knife.

Start looking for covered outlets outside of buildings; usually on the backside you'll find some. Just be warned that unless you ask you could be charged with theft of services. Usually if you ask nicely and explain you just need to charge your phone and/or laptop most will give you the okay.

Being that it is heating up, this thread should be bumped up, as having one of these handy tools can truly be a life saver. It's also surprising how many people don't know about them.

Another vote for the Uniden Bearcat scanners; most any of them will work great and last a long time. Just keep fresh batteries in it; and if you're not going to use it for a while, take the batteries out just in case they leak. I once ruined a nice little shortwave radio by forgetting to remove...

Hospital parking lots usually have plenty of vacant spaces around the back, and few people will notice you there.

It doesn't matter what society thinks of you, it's what YOU think of yourself.

Most of those cost more than a house. I know not everyone wants (or can) build out a van, box truck, cargo trailer etc, but if you can or even rehab a good older RV you would be much better served. Plus it would be your layout. The downside to more mainstream RV users and coverage is more trash...

More and more people are seeing the light, realizing that housing is over-priced and you can easily end up trapped in a home/prison with a mortgage that can go underwater with the economy, or just lose the home due to something as simple as a virus and subsequent job loss. Plus, as jobs dry up...

I will cast another vote for Danner, as I've had mine for years and they still look great and have been over some rugged ground. If you plan on walking a lot (like most do), don't forget some sock liners to prevent blisters. Those are lifesavers on longer walks/hikes.

A truck camper will be a lot less stealthy than a cargo van, but LEO's typically know what vehicle belongs where and which ones are out of place. Of course frequently it's the "concerned citizen" that calls the LEO's to begin with, and a truck camper will draw more of their attention in a city...

I ran into the fee for a carry-on bag thing before, and I didn't want to pay it, as that's just ridiculous. Hopefully my solution will help you and any others with the "no carry-on allowed" issue. The trick to getting around having to pay for my carry-on was to eliminate it first, and buy a...

Water damage is probably the main thing to look for, that and any mechanical problems of course. Most RVs are not well built; frequently 1x2 wood stapled together. Now imagine that going down the road with lots of vibration; like a mini-home going through constant earthquakes, with sub-par...

I mostly rubber tramp now, but rooftops during good weather have always been a favorite of mine. During windy weather or rain look at the storage sheds outside any Home Depot or Lowe's. It's almost like getting your own home for the night. Just be gone before any employee gets there in the morning.

I will second the book suggestion. Try to pick something that takes you away from reality that you find interesting. If you end up bored with your first choice try another book. I've found that books are a great way to get pulled into another world where all the stress and crap in this one...

I'm sorry to the OP; I totally forgot to address your post. I would say yes, you can get a good vehicle for around $3,000. I've seen them as low as $1,500-$2,000, but you really need to look them over well and ask a LOT of questions. If the seller seems shady, doesn't know a lot, can't tell you...

I have to echo Coywolf's warning on this as well, as years ago I worked at a car dealership in the auto-detail section, and saw firsthand some of the tricks done to used vehicles were. A few highlights were cars bought at auction (who knows how they were taken care of), and were driven to the...

Absolutely; almost everyone struggles to pay rent every month, and mortgages are even worse, as while you are theoretically getting something, it's only if you live long enough to pay it off, and it has a way of tying you down and draining you financially. Vehicle dwelling isn't without...

Anything that you consider to be essential (within reason) you should have a physical copy of, just in case the 'net goes down where you are, no service, broken device, etc. Something such as maps are extremely valuable and handy to have on hand, as compared to recreational reading, which could...

A roof AC unit is going to need power, and that will need to be from a generator or shore power. If you're off-grid or in a parking lot shore power probably won't be an option, and generators are noisy and aren't cheap. Work on keeping the heat out by insulating your windows and get a small...

I've thought about upgrading from my cargo van to a school bus, but the windows hold me back a bit, as there's a lot to insulate. I do love how well they are built however. I keep toying with the idea of a box truck as well, as I really would like more storage and the ability to stand up. So I...