What's it like to buy a used UHaul truck, make it livable, and quit your job for the van life? In this episode, I catch up with my friend Mike, who did just that. From stealth parking to finding a summer job, it's a great conversation.

My apologies for taking so long to get this episode out to you. I think it is worth the wait.

In this episode, I'll be talking about setting up my 2011 Chrysler Town & Country for a month-long vanlife adventure. Keep in mind, I'm doing this in the month of January and I'm spending the month in northern Wisconsin. In fact, it's -7% Fahrenheit as I'm writing this.

I'll tell you why I went the no-build route for now, what it cost, and how long it took. I'll also tell you what I like and what I'd change. Although I may do a build when I'm done working full-time, this no-build camper is just the thing to get me where I want to go when I'm not trucking.

There's a lot to consider if you're looking at a diesel-powered vanlife rig. Trust me, I know about this. I've owned several cars and pickups with diesel engines. I've also been driving semi trucks for decades.

Things to consider with diesel include;

• Higher initial cost
• higher maintenance
• The price per gallon is always more
• The additional cost of diesel exhaust fluid
• Plugging it in during the winter
• Who's going to work on it

Buck's new van. That's right. Even though I'm still a good 3 years off from spending significant time in anything but a bit rig, I stepped up and purchased a new-to-me van. You'll have to listen for details.

This episode is about weighing my options as I move closer to retiring and spending more time traveling, backpacking, and exploring the backcountry.

I'm thinking out loud here as I consider all possibilities. Part-time jobs, campground host and seasonal jobs are all an option. Also blogging, youtube, even Etsy and Ebay are not off the table.

This episode is about my love affair with the old Type 2 VW vans. My uncle's camper got me hooked as a child, and I went on to own 4 more VW buses over the years.

Although I've never owned a pop-top camper, the last 2 buses were Westfalia Weekenders. They had the camper interior, complete with sink, Icebox, and scissors bed, also known as the rock-n-roll bed. They also had a removable table.

I wrote an article about my VW bus journey a while back. You can read more about it at 5 Cool Things About VW Camper Buses.

Do you have a topic for the show? Please let me know. I'd love to cover whatever you're interested in or curious about.

An introduction to Truckers, Dirtbags, and Vanlifers.