I good ice chest that can keep ice for a week. Can double as a chair.

A tire plug kit
A small set of tools
Couple 5 gallon water jugs
Manual air pump
Wet wipes
A 5 gallon bucket or two
Ivory soap
Zote laundry soap - good for washing sleeping bags as well
A mirror
A small pillow

A carbon monoxide detector... if you are idling the engine (say to charge the battery or provide heat) and have an unnoticed exhaust leak, it could be deadly.

Secondly, depending on the climate and comfort level, an indoor safe propane heater. There are radiant versions, over 98% efficient, and low exhaust needing just a cracked window for safety.

Earthroamer and done

Since it's a car/van I would think a very well insulated sleeping bag. Campers/hikers would know a brand better than me. Small, tight, and warm as hell is a good thing.

Really depends on location, summers in South Florida would not be fun in a van at night when night time lows are 83 (at best) and mosquitoes are thick. Some type of A/C unit and the ability to keep your windows closed, for security and mosquitoes!

I would also think a 12v plug in coffee maker (if they make those?) plus a tank of propane with a harbor freight 2 burner gas stove would be slick.

I guess a question would be, is the living in the car including not working? or extended vacation/travel? That would dictate items needed.

BTW, if picking a van, i would go virtually windowless. But I would have a roof vent/scoop.

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:
If it were a van, an extra battery and a solar panel on the roof to recharge the batteries. A Coleman stove, maybe a 12 volt cooler that could run off the batteries and allow you to have some food for a few days instead of having to get fresh food from a supermarket every day. A small propane heater for cold nights to turn on for a while, but one that also has a carbon monoxide detector so you don't kill yourself.

Last summer I watched a lot of youtube videos of people that live year round in vans and cars. A lot of good ideas there.

The second battery is a good idea. I’d add an isolator so the second battery charges from the alternator, but cannot suck down the vehicle battery. That way if your aux battery ever runs down you can start the van to recharge.

https://www.youtube.com/result...y=living+in+your+van

There are endless videos on here that show how people live year round in their vans. Some are a choice, while others have no other choice but to live in a vehicle.

Not a 'comfort' item per se, but since this is a gun forum, what about a bolted-down lock box for a gun and/or other valuables?

Firearm for self protection.

There is this cute girl on YouTube that goes by the name of HOBO AHLE that I have been following for about 2 years that used to live in her car but about a year or so ago purchased a van and now lives in that. She has a bunch of videos of what she go through, etc. Here is one of her videos. God Bless

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
Since it's a car/van I would think a very well insulated sleeping bag. Campers/hikers would know a brand better than me. Small, tight, and warm as hell is a good thing.

Good sleeping bags might include:

Marmot
North Face
Mountain Hardwear
REI
LL Bean

In a vehicle in KY/OH - probably a 15-20 degree down bag would work. If you plan on eating in or around the bag - or plan on having to wash it 2-3x year - get a bag with synthetic insulation and use a liner.

Dad bought us a full size dodge van in 83 and it was the family truckster for 10 years in my youth and teens then it was my Daily and secondary driver till I was about 28 then it finally died and I donated it. Full windows all the way around. I camped in it many times. If I was living in it in town I’d Get limo tint. Not cardboard, curtains or tin foil. Mine had an oversized 36 gallon tank. Even with terrible carburated v8 mileage could still go about 600 miles on a full tank. Modern more effiecnt engines could probly go 800+ miles on a full tank. I’d love to get one of the new 4wd one so see around. Great for an overlander.

Single or maybe Twin size mattress for a single person slightly elevated to allow for storage. Steel lock box bolted to frame or the bed of van. Ladder out back to a roof rack on top for additional storage. If not a full size rv with inside bath a gym membership is a must for bathing. Maybe even finding a roadside motel that would rent you a room real cheap $20-30 for a night every several days so you can sleep in a real bed and shower and shave.

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
Since it's a car/van I would think a very well insulated sleeping bag. Campers/hikers would know a brand better than me. Small, tight, and warm as hell is a good thing.

Good sleeping bags might include:

Marmot
North Face
Mountain Hardwear
REI
LL Bean

In a vehicle in KY/OH - probably a 15-20 degree down bag would work. If you plan on eating in or around the bag - or plan on having to wash it 2-3x year - get a bag with synthetic insulation and use a liner.

I have a huge military mummy bag which is as new. I havn't opened it in my car yet but if the temps go down to 25 or lower, I will be hiding in there. Its a extreme cold weather bag. A Korean War Vet said he used the same bag in 35 below weather and slept warm.

I have a small 12 volt heater I could donate. It has a lighter jack and a couple of switches. I tried it out once - left it running for several hours, and I expected it to run the battery way down. But, it didn't, much to my surprise.

When I was in college, I had an old beat up Ford with no heater. (I had to bypass the heater core because it leaked into the interior!) So, a couple of years ago, I saw this 12-volt heater/defroster on the innanet and purchased it because - oh how I would have loved to have had one back in those college days!

But, if David wants it, I'll send it to him.

A lot of good advice above. I'd also want a large tarp and some lawn chairs. I want to sit outside and it's generally wet around here.

Comfortable compact bed, and bedding optimized for the season.

12 volt “oven” available at truckstops they are about the size of a lunchbox and will cook a frozen entree about as fast as a home oven. A simple burner that attaches to a 1# propane bottle as well as a boy scout cook kit. Eating out quickly sucks.

A few stackable totes to use as closet and cabinet space. A couple need only be 12” deep and then a nice deep one.

Finally the blackout curtains, ideally they would be on rods and appear relatively nice from the outside. Along that train of thought, a “escort vehicle” banner. When parked in the right places you will catch very little grief with that vibe. Especially with the drawbar folded away on the front bumper. I’d find it comforting to not have to explain myself parked all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/result...ving+in+sanfrancisco

has some insight.

one guy purchased a 10 ft. u-haul van, in reno for $2.000.00.

but I can not find that video.

Small propane gas stove, less than $25 on Amazon, if you are in a campground a EzUp tent, around $100 and good to cook under. If not skip the tent.

quote:

Originally posted by roadkill:
Earthroamer and done

Seriously? If the guy could afford an Earthroamer, he could afford a house. This is a guy that is in desperate times asking for our help, and endorsed by Para.

quote:

Originally posted by GA Gator (and others):
Firearm for self protection.

While a good idea, I can see it also being problematic. If a cop rousts him and finds the gun, he could be in a world of trouble.

quote:

Posted by Various:
Electric heater
Electric blanket
Refrigerator
Etc.

Any of these things are going to be a significant draw on the battery if electric and he can't plug in to shore power, which it sounds like he can't. Better choices are a good sleeping bag and mat (mat is just as important), camp stove (standard propane canisters would be best although bulky; backpacking stove would be better, but fuel will be more expensive and possibly harder to find).

quote:

Originally posted by cjevans:
In no particular order, after the vehicle has been selected....
--chris

Pretty good list here (except for maybe the inflatable mattress - no insulation value).

I agree with the privacy screens. Also maybe a window screen for warmer weather. I go back and forth from SC to PA to visit my daughter and sleep in my car on the trip (too cheap to get a hotel for 4-6 hours of rest), and a screen over the window is very welcome in warmer weather. (I made it myself, but there are eBay options.)

The above is my opinion only, but comes from a lifetime of going camping and RVing (I have lived in an RV for over 10 years now, still do), although I've never had to live out of my car for more than a few days or so a couple of times.