Anyone van dwell in a renovated mini van?

I'm looking into options for lower impact and lower cost living, and urban van dwelling is an option. But I'd like to increase fuel efficiency.
It's just me, I have washing facilities available.
I'm looking at six months or so.
I would be earning money along the way.


I'm envisioning a late 90s to early 2000 minivan, removing bench seats, hooks for hammock, SkyChair.
Small solar array and induction burner.
Food grade buckets for water.
Cooler and dry box for food.

I'm looking at friends' driveways/property, state parks close to town, occasional parking lot stays.

Economically, I need to come in under $400 a month, including gas to get to work.
I'd clump my shifts so that I'd only have four workdays, cutting down commute. I'd also use park and rides with bus and light rail, further reducing fuel use.

My greatest concern is safety and not looking like a house from the outside, especially on casual glances.

I've thought of getting a cargo minivan, one with fewer windows, but I like airflow.
I'd happily tint side and back windows.

I'd wash it every couple of weeks.

Should I leave the first or last bench seats in?


Tell your tales, share your knowledge!

 

When you say mini van you mean something like a Hiace or Urvan? Some years ago I actually camped in a Leyland Mini van at a Confest and it was a bit cramped and when I got home it felt good to lay on a real bed again! Confest is the down-under equivalent of Burning Man.
Any forward control van is not that good on fuel as they have the aerodynamics of a filling cabinet. On the highway most of the time you will not get better than 12 L /100km. I don't know what this is as MPG but to put things in perspective a Corolla would use about 7L/100km. Urban driving where constant stopping and starting is involved uses even more fuel. For this reason I usually park at a outer suburban railway station when I visit Melbourne and park my van. If I do have to drive it to pick up some thing bulky then I try to use the freeways even if it means paying for a toll road.
As far as fitting out goes and what to carry compactness is the no 1 priority. I generally only camp on my van for few days at a time, not full time. If I was to camp full time I would consider a covered in trailer used by tradesman that can be opened from the side, for carrying a bit more gear.
For a stove I have a single burner directly on top of a 1.25 kg bottle. The unit cost of gas for this bottle is one third of that for those stoves that use throw away cartridges. To make peculated coffee I boil water in a saucepan part of my steamer set -this way I make do without a kettle- and use coffee bags. These do make quite a good cup of coffee. For washing up I wipe out with vinegar and a paper towel.
I understand what you are saying not being noticed. What you want is a stealth van. I don't have art work on my van. I won't buy a red or a black van - these colors catch the eye of the fuzz too much.
I have a prejudice for Toyotas. The RZH Hiace was in production for 16 years so getting replacement parts should not be a problem.
When I go away I carry a spare key around my neck just in case I get locked out.

 

Stealth, here, guys.

this is a cutaway of a late 90s minivan, bilby

and this is a typical outside



I have looked at Toyota Dolphin and the original miniwinnies, Sally.
Every time I test drive, they are just beasts. I'm crossing the Rockies. High wind, two lane cliff side roads.
And previously lived in miniRVs reeeeeeeek.
Don't people wash?

Actually, they have had cat issues. Between pee and dander, I'd rip out the entire inside and rework it.
Why not do that with a minivan/soccer mom rig?
I'm old enough to be a soccer mom. (My kid is 22)

With a pod on top, it will just look like a van used to go ski or whatever.

I have a small solar array+ batteries. Likely will get two more batteries.

 

I should point out that in 95-96 I was 3/4 time in a stepvan.
So, van dwelling is not new. I just want more stealth and better mileage than the big brown beast got!
Plus it's just me.
The stepvan was me, my son and my then husband. Toured, worked renfaires, did a couple Gatherings.
Loved it.
Don't want to muscle a behemoth!

Manservant Hecubus,
Do you have the "bedroom" curtain at night, or a sunshade?

 

I looked uo Toyota Previa and it has the same fuel consumption as a
Hiace. I would rather have a Hiace van. As the body-shell is a bit less contoured it is a bit easier to convert to what you want. How about going to a live auction for one? Ex-telco especially if used for country work would probably be ok. Big companies usually replace their vehicles every few years to claim depreciation on them.
I don''t think your idea of an induction burner is a goer. To make this work, you are going to need several large PV panels, several deep cycle batteries ( these are much heavier than normal lead acid batteries of the same size. If you are lucky, you will get three years out of them) and high capacity inverter.Not only will the PV panels and batteries take up previous space, it will cost hundreds of dollars when a single gas burner and small bottle would cost maybe $60?

 

(Well, a mod made the OP...good way to slide by. I know you aren't spamming the company.)

 

Bilby, I already own the PV. I work with a solar green house start-up, part time. We carry/re-market solar for RVs.
I'd probably get a bottle gas/white gas stove for times I don't want to drain the battery.

But the stove in Sally's link is intriguing. I'd be in the forest. Burn bans, but this might fly.

 

What is the wattage of the PV panel you have?
If you want a stove for simmering then methylated spirits burners are good.As the flame burns at a lower temperature than LPG stove does. Example ,
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-Ult...140106155344&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=251224754777&rt=nc
I would not use one inside a vehicle . Boiling a full kettle takes a good half hour. Nothing like that on a LPG stove.

 

50w with four batteries.

It's needed to charge smart devices, a light and the induction cooker.
Maybe an occasional small appliance, but likely I'd wait until I could get electric at a campsite for those treats.
I'm not fully in the vehicle. I do have house access here and there.

 

50w would be fine for charging smart devices but to run even single induction burner is going to drain the batteries straight away. What you might find useful is a windup radio with USB sockets for changing smart devices.

 

True. I'd not looked up the consumption of the induction burner.

Solar oven it is, then.