What would you do to live out your dream?

[DarkSkies]

At Montauk yesterday we met a couple, Doug and Kari, originally from N Carolina. They had a house in Pittsburgh, and sold it 3 years ago. They now travel around the United States in a converted Dodge Sprinter they rigged into a custom RV.

IMO, it was better than any pricey RV I have seen on the market because they designed it to meet their specs. And they're having a blast!

They make a little money for expenses here and there by transporting and delivering bulk items from e-bay- boats, motorcycles, trailers, etc. Very cool people, I'm glad we met. :HappyWave:

So many people talk about what they're gonna do when they retire, THEN they'll have the time to do what they want.

These people are doing it!

Right now!! :clapping: :thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

some pics


Side of the RV
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He used a 30" house door, custom fit to the body. Nice clean work! :thumbsup:
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Casement window for ventilation, works great, and sealed with silicone for leaks.
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[DarkSkies]

A/C unit. Most of the RV places he checked wanted $1000+ install for an A/C unit for this. He runs a tight ship and was on a budget. So he got this smaller unit, maybe 5-6,000 BTU, did the cutout and install himself. Sealed it to prevent leaks and bugs coming in, git er done! :clapping:

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HD trailer hitch. He put this together and welded it from a kit he was able to buy. They can pull anything with the diesel and HD axles and tires, except for maybe an army tank! :D

Hit wife did the painting and helped him finish up and detail a lot of the fabrication work he did. They are a team working together. They really seem to enjoy each other's company, and it shows. :thumbsup:

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[DarkSkies]

They bought a custom HD trailer from Montrose industries, a small Mid-western company staffed by guys who used to work in the auto industry but were downsized. He had nothing but good words to say about Mongoose. They took a basic model they sold and tailored it to his specs. How many companies out there are willing to do that without charging you an arm and a leg? :clapping:


Look at this HD trailer tongue! Look at the welds, nice clean sturdy work.
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When we met them they were transporting an old Gulfstream to a customer in the Adirondacks. They said there is a cult following of people who restore these old Gulfstreams and travel the country.

One such group is called "Girls on the Fly", I think he said. Good for them!
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The Montrose customized trailer. Interesting feature of this trailer is that it can lower up or down, I think some hydraulics or electronics are involved, not sure. The important part here is that makes it a lot easier to load all the stuff they're hauling.
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another shot of the Gulfstream. They definitely don't make quality like that anymore unless you have $100k+ to drop on a higher quality one.
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[DarkSkies]

They told us a story of where they were hauling a high end Jaguar out of a brand new house that a guy just bought for his wife. Wife had a baby and couldn't drive the 2 seater anymore, so he bought her a 4 door jaguar. Boy that guy sure showed some devotion to his wife, eh? :rolleyes:

So as they're hanging around, the Jaguar guy starts fantasizin about living the lifestyle that these 2 are livin, travelling around the country, wife and kids in tow....

NOT!!! :laugh:

I think it takes a special kind of mindset to do something like this. If you're used to getting your nails done every week, dinner at the country club, and daytime spa visits while the kids are at school, you ain't gonna be able to adapt to something like this.

This is rough and raw living, one step above camping. They bought this Sprinter NEW to avoid any problems, but said they got a lemon (Hint: they said don't buy any Sprinters of the new model year starting in 2007). They had nothing but trouble with this truck ever since they got it. Good thing he''s mechanically inclined and has been able to figure things out so far...

But can you imagine breaking down in the middle of Montana, 50 miles from the nearest town? They don't have to imagine things like this, they've lived through it. And they're stronger for the experience, and still going after 3 years. :clapping:

[DarkSkies]

Doug designed and installed this front anchor post for motorcyles after they covered the rails of the trailer with 3/4 or 1" plywood to give them more surface area to work with.
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more chocks for when they're needed, they can haul up to 3 motorcycles safely at a time.
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[DarkSkies]

Tool kit and outdoor cooking station. Doug even put a small roof over this, which also helps aerodynamics when the camper is moving.

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[DarkSkies]

What else they can transport?

The sky's the limit, as long as it's legal and not too tall. One of the most unusual things they transported was an antique Pinzgauer?, an old army vehicle that was transported in 3 big crates. Amazing stuff we learn about when we take a few minutes from our busy day or fishin time to have some conversations with people.




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A little info about Pinzgauers:

Pinzgauer & Haflinger are product names of vehicles made by the legendry Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG

Steyr = Österreichische Waffenfabrik

Daimler = Daimler Motorengesellschaft = Gottlieb Daimler = Mercedes-Benz

Puch = Puch-Werke Graz

collectively = Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG

Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG was the initial designer and manufacturer of the Haflinger produced from 1959 to 1974, also the Pinzgauer produced from 1971 to 2000 and the Puch G produced from 1979 which is also known as Mercedes G-Wagon/G-Class.

now:
Steyr Tractor = Case Corporation, Puch motorcycle = Piaggio, Steyr Mannlicher & Steyr automobile + Magna = Magna Steyr, Steyr Motorentechnik GmbH = Steyr Motors GmbH, Daimler = Mercedes-Benz

in 1998 the other reminance (military vehicles) changed name from Steyr-Daimler-Puch.AG to Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH then in 2003 Steyr-Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH became 100% owned by "General Dynamics European Land Systems" (MOWAG GmbH (Switzerland) and Santa Bárbara Sistemas (Spain)) thus owned by General Dynamics Corporation America.

[DarkSkies]

I kind of manipulated these pics out of them. At first they felt funny because they took the shower out for more room. They have Gold's gym memberships and can take showers there, there's one in every state, and most metropolitan areas. So they felt it was a little messy inside.

They didn't exacly know the PITA Darkskies was coming to poke and prod the camera in their lives. :HappyWave:Please don't make judgements on conditions inside as they were so kind to let me take the pics.

(Actually it doesn't look messy at all to me, that's the way it looks inside my van when I'm on the road. In fact, I think it looks neat compared to the way mine looks after 2 or 3 days of nomad livin) :laugh:


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Bein that I like construction and fixin things, I always seem to notice how well, or how poorly, something is built. I was impressed with Doug's skills and the way he thought things out. He started with an idea in his head and some plans - how to make the Sprinter van big enough to live comfortably.

He bumped it out and up a bit, but not enough that they won't fit underneath the lowest bridges.

He fabricated the outside skin of fiberglass panels, riveted them together and used silicone to seal.

He put 4" of fiberglass as insulation between the shell and the inside of the van so the money they spend on heat or A/C is spent efficiently. I think he mentioned that most RVs on the market today have insulation. but nowhere near as thick as he put in.

He cut out a big hole to allow easy access from the cab into the rear, so he used steel plate, cut with a torch, to create a strong roll bar that would stiffen up the inside compartment. He covered the exposed steel with the black foam you see in the pic above, right above his head.

They carefully thought out their electronics and how they would use them.
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[DarkSkies]

I think they make this whole gig look easier than it is, but that's probably because of who they are. I could see they are 2 very nice but hardy people who exemplify to me what was the pioneer spirit that got this county going way back in the Indian days.

Not many people wanted to take a chance away from the safety of the cities back then, but some did.... the Pioneers, who took wagon trains, women, children, and livestock across this great country of ours in seach of a better liife.

Some made it and prospered. Others were killed by Indians, disease, and the harsh realities of life on the open road without amenities.

So Doug and Kari definitely remind me of the pioneers. I called them nomads as a term of endearment. I was impressed and in awe at what they're doing.

I wanted to take pics of them both, but Kari had a bandage on her head, a memory from the night before when she had to do something in the dark, fell down outside the camper, and gashed her head.

I knew as a woman she might be self conscious about pics, so I didn't ask to tlake one of them together. These are 2 very cool people, nice as you would ever want to meet, and tough enough not to lay down in the face of adversity.

I had a great time meeting them. I think Mick and Will did as well.

They're a good inspiration for those of us who have always thought about something like this, but never got around to putting the plans in action.

They said they're not making a lot of money doing this, but it's enough to pay expenses. I would guess that's because they're living frugally and careful how they spend money. They also have to be pretty good at logistics, materials transport, and understanding traffic flow to be able to run it as a consistent service, and keep busy.

Hats off to this couple who is living their dreams. They're young, there's still time for them to start a family later if they want. They're also in a better position of seeing where they want to settle down for good, after all of the different states they'll see. :clapping: :thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Here you can see how he mounted the PC to his dashboard, using a standard wall TV mount and hardware.

Take a look at his business card, maybe ya know someone who needs some stuff transported across the state or county? If so, why not forward Doug and Khari's e-mail to them, and throw some work their way. :thumbsup:



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[mick2360]

No pics on my screen...:huh:

[DarkSkies]

Sorrry man, I took a break from work to start the threads, pics up later. :D

[jonthepain]

You didn't get your darkskies decoder glasses yet? better check to make sure you sent in the right boxtops...

[mick2360]

Didn't get the glasses. Seems I sent in to the 'Marching to a different Drummer" special offer. Either dark will get the pics up or i can wait for a pair in the retail forums. :D

[DarkSkies]

You didn't get your darkskies decoder glasses yet? better check to make sure you sent in the right boxtops...


I liked the decoder ring they used to give out a lot better. ;) Still working on a Darkskies action figure licensing deal with Mattel, I'll let yas know how that works out. :rolleyes:


Didn't get the glasses. Seems I sent in to the 'Marching to a different Drummer" special offer. Either dark will get the pics up or i can wait for a pair in the retail forums. :D


Man youse guys are some BBs, aintcha? :2flip: :laugh: :HappyWave: If you were to mention that phrase at certain surf spots in Asbury the welcome might be a little too friendly, Mick. :kiss:

[jonthepain]

Well now that I know what the topic is, I'll respond...

When I turned 18 I inherited some $, so I bought a van and tricked it out with bed and sink etc etc, bought a bullmastiff and toured the country for a year and a half to decide where and how i wanted to spend my life. kinda like these people.

ended up in oregon, met the wife, and the rest, as they say, is history.

[DarkSkies]

^^ That's ironic, you hippie freak! :laugh: :HappyWave: We suggested to this couple that Oregon and Washington might be cool places for them to settle, and they said they had an interest in Oregon. Funny how things come around, ain't it? ;)

(and yes. I'm probably jealous of that trip you took Jon, always wanted to do something like that, more on that in a later post)

[jonthepain]

they'd fit right in, in Oregon. Tell them to start in Ashland and work their way over to Gold Beach. If that doesn't convince them, nothing will.

and "hippie freak" describes it perfectly. rofl. i'll see if i can dredge up a picture when i get home tonight.

[mick2360]

Nice job on the pics and the explanation of the business. Doug and kari were two very nice young people. This is a good team to keep in mind should anyone need a large item moved. What a unique idea for combining a business with a lifestyle. I'd love to hear an update from them on how things are going.

Are you out there, Doug and Kari? :HappyWave:

[DarkSkies]

Are you out there, Doug and Kari? :HappyWave:


I got an e-mail from them yesterday. They liked the story, and might sign on when they get a chance. E-mail sometimes takes a while to be sent to them, but I think that's cool they got it anyway.

Doug said they were picking up an IronHorse chopper in Albany for delivery elsewhere, very cool. :drool:


Here's a pic of both of them he sent, pic was taken in
Utah. It's amazing how much of this beautiful country they're seeing. They'll have some great stories to tell their neighbors and family when they finally decide on a place to settle. :thumbsup::thumbsup:


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[nitestrikes]

They are fortunate to be able to do what they do. In today's poor economy, they are not missing much in terms of job opportunities, so they might as well go for it. Nice pics, Dark.

[jimbob]

Wow, that's really cool! I am jealous.

[DarkSkies]

They are fortunate to be able to do what they do. In today's poor economy, they are not missing much in terms of job opportunities, so they might as well go for it. Nice pics, Dark.


I was going through some paperwork I had to do, and found these quotes I had scribbled down when I first met Doug and Kari:


"If you can fit everything in your life in your van, you will have a simpler life. Getting rid of all our possessions was hard, but it made us realize how much value we in society place on things that don't really matter"

I thought that was pretty profound, and today, Doug and Kari, those thoughts actually helped me get rid of some junk that I was holding onto. :thumbsup: Thanks, and hope you guys are OK.

Here's a link to their e-mail if anyone knows someone who needs something moved across state, or cross-country for a reasonable price.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=4373

[7deadlyplugs]

I would love to be able to do something like that, they are really lucky.

[dogfish]

Imagine the choice of doing that, or staying glued to a dull office job, selling insurance, widgets, or internet bandwidth, or office products. Doug and Kari got room for one more? (I can repair things):D

[plugcrazy]

Imagine the choice of doing that, or staying glued to a dull office job, selling insurance, widgets, or internet bandwidth, or office products.

the choice of that or life on the road with your woman seeing the country together? Why that's a no-brainer for me.:D

[bluesdude71]

What a great life they have. Traveling and working, seeing the country side. Wish I had enought guts to do the same.

[johnnysaxatilis]

thats amazing. and if thats dirty, my freakin car is a dumpster, and if mines a dumpster, my buddies car is the county landfill. Sounds awesome. And great work from the looks of it. I'd live there!:clapping:

What an awesome idea. Hell, im guna do it.... right now i dont think little miss "omg" is guna go for it tho. i need to dump this chick and find one like keri!

[DarkSkies]

8-15-09

We've been super busy & seeing stuff that we haven't seen before. One trip took us to Biloxi, our first time there. All the postcards I bought were old school, showing crowed beaches filled with pretty tacky casinos. Katrina cleared the entire beach! All you see now is open miles of gorgeous white sands, warm gulf waters & blue skies. A new casino is being built, but it's actually pretty cool looking: it's Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. The draping that covers the construction site is covered with different lyrics from his songs, which is neat. My favorite was, 'The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful!'.

Unfortunately, most of the old historic beachfront homes were swept away as well in the 24' high waves, so a lot of history was lost. As were many of the ancient old oaks that lined the streets. Lots of stumps were left, but instead of cutting them down, an artist came & volunteered his time to carved them into beautiful works of art, depicting pelicans, ospreys, sea turtles, dolphins, whale tails & the like.

We thought it was an amazing reminder that sometimes wondrous gifts can come from the results of devastation. And a huge bonus: the gentleman to whom we delivered a Harley gave us 10 lbs of the biggest prawns we've ever seen! He wanted to give us 40 lbs, but our fridge wouldn't hold that many! We actually just finished them all off, & they were the best darn shrimp we've ever eaten.

I (Kari) turned 35 on August !st. I celebrated with breakfast in Souis Falls, Iowa & dinner in Fargo, ND. We love being up in the Dakotas this time of year, it's crazy pretty up there now. The winter, not so much! We ventured up into Scobey, MT for a delivery, which is 14 miles from the Canadian border & out in the boonies some. The weather was so perfect out there that it was sort of sad heading back east. But the mosquitoes? They seriously swarm in big clouds like gnats & are about the size of jet bombers. No joke.

We also headed up into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our first time to Lake Superior! On our way we stayed for a couple of days in Rhinelander, WI, which is home to the HODAG. It's a mascot for EVERYTHING, even the businesses. Google it, you won't regret it!

The people in Wisconsin & the mainlaners of Michigan call those that live on the Upper Peninsula 'Uppers' (makes sense), while the Uppers call Wisconsinites 'Appleknockers' & Michigan mainlanders 'Trolls'. We forget the story behind the Appleknockers, but the term 'Trolls' come from the Mackinac Bridge, a.k.a. Big Mac. Did you know that it connects the Upper Peninsula to mainland MI & it's the largest suspension bridge in the world? Well, we found out it was on this trip! Anyhoo, the Uppers claim they live on the high ground & the Trolls (who collect the tolls) live under the bridge. Too funny! I guess Hatfield/McCoy relationships are carried out all over the place. One huge thing I've learned doing all of this is that people aren't that much different from one another after all; some just have funnier accents than others. Fuggiddaboutit!

We've checked out Cincinatti twice in the last few weeks & have eaten two of the BEST meals there. Forget all the posh places that charge a lot, I usually make better food in our little camper. Our tried & true method: scope out the location of the restaurant & if it looks like a neighborhood you'll quite possibly get mugged in, lock up your car REAL GOOD & go inside & eat. Try to sit at a window seat to keep an eye on your vehicle & any cargo you may be hauling. Act casual, like you hang out in bad neighborhoods all the time, no big deal. Note: I would never eat at many places if Doug wasn't with me. Are you kidding? I'd get mugged!

[DarkSkies]

Thought I would do some research based on what Doug & Kari said. Some interesting stuff!


http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/photos/hodag.html



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The Hodag

The Hodag, a creature native to Wisconsin, has the head of a bull, the back of a dinosaur, and the leering features of a giant man. Its legs are short, its claws are long, and its tail is spear-tipped.

It is a supernatural beast. According to legend, in its first life it took the form of an ox that belonged to Paul Bunyan. Upon its death, the ox was burned for seven years to cleanse it of the profanity of its master. But seven years was not long enough. The soul of the ox emerged from the ashes in the shape of a Hodag, exuding a foul odor.

Eugene S. Shepard and a group of companions tracked the creature down to Rhinelander, Wisconsin where they succeeded in capturing it. After its capture the creature was displayed for many years at country fairs. The exhibition of the Hodag usually occurred in dim light. According to malicious rumors, what was actually exhibited was a large dog over which a horse's hide had been stretched, but such rumors have never been substantiated.

The Hodag's name comes from combining the words 'horse' and 'dog.' It is also known as the Bovine Spiritualis.

Jack Cory, editor of the Rhinelander Daily News, once hypothesized that the Hodag was "the long-sought missing link between the ichthyosaurus and the mylodoan" of the Ice Age.

Pictures showing a Hodag surrounded by men with pitchforks (similar to the one to the left) appeared on many Wisconsin postcards during the first decades of the 20th century. The same pictures also hung in many saloons.

[Pebbles]

Lets pack our bags sell our homes and go!!! This life currently is not what I intended. I need a change.

Traveling would make me happy. I could deliver ebay goods!

[DarkSkies]

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[DarkSkies]

What an awesome idea. Hell, im guna do it.... right now i dont think little miss "omg" is guna go for it tho. i need to dump this chick and find one like keri!

Johnnysax, as you guessed, it's not that easy. Still a good goal to think about anyway. Not too many women could handle it. When we first met Kari she had a big bandage on her head, she had gashed it the day before taking a walk to the bathroom in the middle of a rainstorm.



So as they're hanging around, the Jaguar guy starts fantasizin about living the lifestyle that these 2 are livin, travelling around the country, wife and kids in tow....
NOT!!! :laugh:

I think it takes a special kind of mindset to do something like this. If you're used to getting your nails done every week, dinner at the country club, and daytime spa visits while the kids are at school, you ain't gonna be able to adapt to something like this.

This is rough and raw living, one step above camping. . :clapping:

[johnnysaxatilis]

you dont know where i've been darkie!!!! If i'm going to do something, im going to do it god damn it, i just need to find someone that would be willing to do the same and put up with me :lookhappy:

[skinner]

I like this pic. Reminds me of the childrens book wild things.:D


http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7498&thumb=1&d=1250560237 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7498&d=1250560237)

[plugaholic]

Lets pack our bags sell our homes and go!!! This life currently is not what I intended. I need a change.

Traveling would make me happy. I could deliver ebay goods!

I could go for a change too, but don't know if I would be happy. They can't be getting rich doing that. It sounds like you have to set up your jobs one at a time, as they come in. There could be some times when the fuel you use is equal to the fees you make. No thanks, not for me, though I give them a lot of credit for doing it.

[DarkSkies]

you dont know where i've been darkie!!!! If i'm going to do something, im going to do it god damn it, i just need to find someone that would be willing to do the same and put up with me :lookhappy:

This might sound corny, but I'm used to doing a lot of stuff by myself in life, I've always been kind of a lone wolf. That being said, I think that with the support of the right woman, you can go twice as far in life.

The big trick is finding the right woman. :D :thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Here's an update they sent...



"At the moment, we're in PA heading south. I'm being dumped, I mean dropped, dropped! off with my family for a few weeks in Charlottesville, Va while Doug & his family go on vacation to Alaska. It's a gorgeous time of year to go! When he gets back & we get back on the open road we're heading west to hopefully stay for a while. We wanted to get out to Oregon & Washington way back in the spring, but one thing or another kept us on the east coast. I also want to see more of Idaho. That is one purdy state.

Well, I hope this gives you an idea of what we've been up to! It's not too shabby of a gig. Good luck with the fishing, & keep in touch!"

[nitestrikes]

Alaska vacation, I'm in!

[buckethead]

That is such a great life they are leading. How come she is not going to Alaska?

Lets keep this story tracking going. We all wish them well.

[DarkSkies]

I found one of them the other day, awesome surf buggy! :dribble:

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[basshunter]

Wifey and I went to a home show over the weekend. We came across another couple who live and travel in their RV. They hooked up with a company which sells a product then travel to the shows to make sales. They love the job because it gives them the opportunity to see the US. They are from Florida and are currently headed to California.

Maybe this is the new trend for the coming years.

[strikezone31]

I found one of them the other day, awesome surf buggy! :dribble:

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My God you could crawl over everything with that. good luck to them for doing what they dreamed of.

[storminsteve]

I was searching for another topic and found this. dark do you keep in touch with those folks. Sounds like an interesting lifestyle. Must be hard but travelling around they prob get to see some really cool stuff.

[DarkSkies]

Steve I was in touch with them for awhile....they sent me e-mails and pics from different places....then we lost touch....
I still repeat, for anyone who feels stuck in the rat race.....your path in life doesn't have to be clearly defined...if you haven't yet had children....

If you have ever wanted to do something different...don't hesitate...plan first, and go for it.....follow your dreams....you don't want to regret not doing so, when you're older and it's too late......:learn:

[seamonkey]

If you have ever wanted to do something different...don't hesitate...plan first, and go for it.....follow your dreams....you don't want to regret not doing so, when you're older and it's too late......:learn:


Hey check this out I thought it was pretty cool a couple built a floating house and lives in it every summer in maine.
https://homes.yahoo.com/blogs/spaces/maine-floating-cabin-is-240-square-feet-of-summer-heaven-164551130.html