This is a sweet set-up! A ford 4×4 diesel pickup, a small and light camper to live in, and an 8×18 cargo trailer as a Man-Cave.
Today I want to talk about a very practical way to boondock and live very comfortably, cheaply and with great freedom. Your first thought might be that’s an easy thing to do but the truth is it’s very hard. Comfort conflicts with freedom and is almost never cheap; in fact they are opposites and self-contradictory. To demonstrate that let’s look at some extreme examples like a large RV and Jeep. A big RV is very comfortable but it is anything but cheap and you give up a lot of freedom of mobility to live in that comfort. On the other hand if you live in a Jeep you are incredibly free to go anywhere you want but there is virtually no comfort in your life!
He has all the cozy comforts of home in his camper, and all the luxury of a Man-Cave in his cargo trailer conversion.
What’s important for most of us is to find the sweet spot which is the best possible balance of the three factors: 1) Comfort, 2) Freedom of movement, 3) Cheap. Because we each place a different emphasis on the three factors there isn’t one choice that’s perfect for everyone. Here are what I think are the four best balanced choices:
- I think the best all-around, balanced choice is a standard van you convert yourself, it does all three well, but none of them great.
- If you want more comfort then a Class B camper van gives you great comfort and good mobility and fairly cheap.
- If you want it to be cheaper and can live with less comfort, a mini-van is a great choice.
- If you want more freedom and mobility, I think nothing beats a 4×4 pickup with a small camper.
My friend Bryce wanted freedom so he lives in a 4×4 Ford Diesel pickup and he carries a small, light camper on it. He loves the freedom and mobility it gives him to go nearly anywhere he wants to go and because it’s diesel he can afford to take trips.
When Judy and I were on our way to Alaska I came across this sign and instantly thought of Bryce, so I got it for him as a house-warming gift. He liked it so he hung it inside! Judy wasn’t all that enthused though!
The camper was very comfortable to live in, but after he had lived in it for a year he realized that he spent a lot of his year in one place and while he was there he wished he could have more comfort and room than the camper provided. What he really wanted was a “Man-Cave!” Specifically he wanted:
- 500 watts of solar on his roof to give him all the power he wanted.
- A BIG screen TV.
- A recliner to lounge in comfort.
- A feeling of openness and room to invite friends in to relax and get put of the bad weather.
- An X Box to play games!
- A large Barbecue to cook with. Obviously he cooks outside but he needed a place to carry it.
The Man Cave! a 50 inch TV, X-Box and comfortable chairs. Everything necessary for the good life!
The more he thought about what would work for him, the more certain he became that the best thing would be an enclosed cargo trailer large enough to do all the things he wanted, but small enough to be easy to tow. I must admit, that I’m egotistical enough to think my example of living in a small cargo trailer may have influenced him. I consider cargo trailers the best compromise I know of. When I’m sitting in one place (which both Bryce and I do most of the winter) it gives us all the comfort we need, and then when we’re traveling we put it in storage (which costs me $35 a month) and travel free and easy in the van. He seemed to like that example and now he’s doing the same thing!
The Man-Cave looking forward. You can see his batteries in the plastic box and the Outback Solar Controller mounted to the wall.
This summer he bought an 8×18 enclosed cargo trailer from TrailersPlus.com, which is the same company I bought mine from. We both had a great buying experience with them and recommend them highly! I bought mine and then added my own windows, vents and ladder rack but he was traveling and in a hurry so he had them do all that for him. After he got it, he installed 500 watts of solar on the roof of the trailer which he bought from Northern Arizona Wind and Sun in Flagstaff, AZ. He already had a 140 watt panel on the roof of the camper that met its basic needs.
Bryce, Steve and I kicking-back after another gourmet meal made in the barbecue.
It’s working out every bit as well as he had hoped! He loves his Man-Cave and his cozy little camper. He has everything he wants, and nothing extra. All winter he lives in luxury and in the summer he can put it in storage to travel. Now that’s what I call the good-life!!
A large barbecue was one of the key elements of his plan. Even if you don’t eat much meat, it works perfectly as an oven.
Bryce cooked a perfect lasagna for us! He turns on the two outside burners so the pan never receives direct heat. That thermometer is up to 400 degrees!
No pictures ??????????
My regards: Lucy.
Lucy, that was my mistake, they are up now.
Bob
Any chance you can post some pictures of the man cave?
Sorry Tommy, I hit Publish instead of save. It’s up now with all the pictures.
Bob
I’m very interested in a visual tour, too.
I’m not surprised Bryce was inspired by your cargo trailer idea, Bob. You’ve made quite a case for it, and yours looks great!
Thanks Scott. I messed up and hit publish instead of save on the first time. It’s posted now with the pictures.
Bob
Great photos!
Thanks Scott!
Bob
I have and 8.5 x 20 foot trailer that I use for hauling, moving and working out of, but it seems like it’s too big to tow around a lot, and it’s low, so getting to some of my favorite areas would be harder. I’ve thought of downsizing to an 8 x 16.
Bryce says his diesel easily tows the trailer and the camper so he doesn’t mind towing it. It seems to have pretty good clearance. It’s size will limit it. I can go more places with my 6×10 than he can in it.
in the winter we don’t move much, we just sit in one place and at Ehrenberg you can get in here with any size rig.
Bob
I’ve gotten it into some decently tight areas, just not very far. I do like the idea. I am looking into generators, mainly for when I am working at a job site. I enjoy repairing and maintaining vehicles, I try to learn more to help make a living.
Douglas, you can’t go wrong with a Honda or Yamaha. But they are expensive. If you look at the long-haul, I think you get your money back in reliability over the decades.
Bob
Bob, OUTSTANDING pictures, well done ! Nice cargo van conversion it seems very comfy.
Muy regards, Lucy.
Thanks Lucy!
Bob
Hello!
I am a French speaking Canadian mechanical engineering teacher looking for a free life!
I have had the chance to travel across USA for 3 complete summers in a row. You have a wonderful country particularly the South-West part.
I am here to thank You for having given me so much by publishing your Website!
You have helped me understand the rat race we live in an ways to get out of it. I now plan for an early retirement in 7 years (still 3 out of 4 kids at home).
I have just listen to your movie ‘Without bound’. You are a bunch of WONDERFUL people!!! Hoping to meet you all one day!!!
B/R,
Louis Audet
laudetingATyahoo.ca
Louis, thank you for you kind words, I appreciate them very much. This is indeed a beautiful country. But Canada is beautiful as well! I love the Canadian Rockies, your National Parks there are as beautiful as anywhere in the world!
Thanks again, Bob