My soon-to-be new home
I haven’t brought her home yet, but as of sometime tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, this beast will be mine. I just have to take her to my mechanic for a double-check, sign some papers, and drive her home.
I decided to name her Big Bertha because, well, she’s BIG. I practically need a boost to get in–in fact, I should get a step-stool (or step-LADDER).
There’s plenty of room inside for living. In fact, a Facebook friend who has this exact model says he measured once and found that a Mini Cooper would fit inside!
But I’ll just start with a cot, a cooler, a Luggable Loo, and some boxes for storage, thanks. The Mini Cooper can come later.
Yes, Ms. Bertha is a gas guzzler. But since I don’t have to drive to work every day and can choose how far and how often I want to go, I can control the cost of gas.
First trip: Quartszite, AZ for the RubberTramp Rendezvous vandwellers’ meetup in THREE WEEKS. Excited! This will be a chance for me to practice in a safe place where experienced vandwellers can show me the ropes. Lots to learn!
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Squeeeeeeee! Real! It’s almost real! Yay you!
Yes, SCARY real, lol. Thanks, Susan!
Congrats! 🙂 :>
Thanks, Birdy! Slight delay in finalizing the deal and picking up Big Bertha, but I hope to get her today. 🙂
*sigh* Big Bertha is not to be. I got seriously cold feet last night, and not from the weather. It just didn’t feel right for me. So I backed out. Part of it was the whole financing thing, but the bottom line was that after a test drive, I felt like it was too much machine for me to handle comfortably. I should have done the test drive first, I guess. :p
Congratulations! I bet you will have many happy hours behind Bertha’s wheel. I just found your blog via the cheapliving forums. Looking forward to following along. I’ll be at the RTR too so hope to meet you. I’m also taking vandwelling 101 while there. Can’t wait!
Thanks Kim, I decided not to buy Big Bertha after all, which means I probably won’t make it to RTR this year — unless I work up the courage to car camp with a tent, not my favorite thing. Vandwelling 101 (and meeting you and all the others) does sound tempting, though!
Best follow your gut instincts so I think you made the right choice. I bought a Ford extended cargo van with the intentions of vandwelling. After a few months with the van I regret buying an extended van. Yes, the extra room is great but, parking can be a pain. I have actually been blocked in a Wal-mart parking spot, because an extended cab pickup parked in front of me, taking up too much room and people beside me parked too close. Forget some parking garages like at a hospital. City parallel parking is horrible too! I have decided to get a regular size van like I had before. Much easier to manuver and less noticed. Bought your book on Amazon and loved it. i am truly getting sh*t done now. Hey, am I the only guy commenting on your posts?
Hi Gary! Good to know about extended vans and parking problems – I hadn’t thought of that. Of course, I plan on mostly boondocking out in the country but parking in the city is always an important consideration. I’m thinking of getting an Astro, which is a lot shorter and should be fairly easy to park wherever I find myself.
Thanks so much for being the only guy commenting here! I may have had a few in the past but it’s been a long dry spell, lol. (And thank you for your awesome review of my book on Amazon — you really made my day.)