Vandwelling 101 - Overnight Parking at Wal-Mart's

Many people talk about boondocking at Walmart.

Boondocking is dry camping without any amenities.

We do not boondock at Wal-Mart's. We do sometimes use their parking lot for overnight parking.

Let's get some things straight before we even talk about how to park overnight at a store.

The parking lot is not public property. It is private property that is open to the public use conditionally.

Wal-Mart does NOT have to allow overnight parking and the ones that don't aren't mean or nasty. Overnight Parking is a courtesy some stores extend to their customers. So... get that entitled attitude and dispose of it. Look at it as being a guest on THEIR property

Ok, now that we've looked at some of the important information, let's look at some common sense rules so that you don't ruin it for everyone. Remember, you are a guest on someone else's property. Be courteous, polite, respectful.

1. First of all, check that this Wal-Mart actually allows overnight parking. No, not an app, actually get out of your vehicle and go in to customer service desk and politely ask if you may park overnight. If there are signs saying No Overnight Parking, then there is no overnight parking.

2. When overnight parking is allowed, usually it's in a designated area. Most of the time it will be over by the gardening/automotive sections. You'll be parked as far away from entrance of the store as possible.

3. Arrive late, leave early.  I usually pull into a Wal-Mart after 5-6 pm. In the morning, about daybreak or before 7 am,I get up, make coffee, put it in my travel cup, and pull out.

4. When parking at the Wal-Mart, I back in to a far spot, pull my front and rear curtains, put up my windshield Sun protector. No cooking outside, no chairs outside. My van from the outside doesn't look as if I live in it full-time.

5. I do go inside and shop at the store, even if it's just a Pepsi or a can of soft dog food. Receipt gets scanned into my Wal-Mart savings app and clipped to the visor.

6. Trash goes in a dumpster not on the ground. Grey water doesn't ever get dumped at a Wal-Mart. If I've a pop or remainder of my coffee to dump, I dilute it with water and pour at base of tree or bush.

7. Carry potty bags for your pup...that's just good manners anywhere. So scoop that poop

8. Many Wal-Mart's now have security. Smile, wave politely, or otherwise politely acknowledge them. They notice who's parked there, how long, and how often.

9. Don't play your electronics loudly. They sell headphones in the store.

10. It's not an RV park or a campsite. Don't congregate and socialize. Don't draw attention to you and your rig.

11. Wal-Mart store bathrooms are not a public shower. As a vandwellers, you should know how to wash up in your van. Be neat, clean, don't look like a homeless person.

12. Do not beg, panhandle, ask others for food, gas, change. That's just incredibly rude.

13. Never ever never dump body fluids or leave a pee jug on the ground. Never.

Although I really prefer boondocking in national forest or the desert, I have successfully parked at many Wal-Mart's in the nation successfully. To date, 

I've only been advised to leave one, and that was by others parking who informed me local ordinances prohibit over night parking and it was strictly enforced. I chose to find safer legal parking.

If you act with courtesy and respect, you'll have no problems with overnight boondocking.

If you wish to donate or help out (I need to replace the engine in my van, the cost is $1896) paypal.me/LouBurgess

Vandwelling 101 - I need power

Setting up a simple 12v system isn't hard.

You need
-a deep cycle battery (about $100)
-a battery box (about $8)
-a dc power unit (I used a triple socket one)
-2 metal clip ends
-electrical tape
- 100 watt inverter (no bigger than 100 watts)($20)
-a type of battery meter
-a way to charge deep cycle battery
-some basic math skills

You put battery in battery box. Mine sits in front on floor on passenger seat floor.

Cut end from triple tap so it's just wires. Separate wires and strip ends so 1/4" copper wire shows.

Thread wires through clip ends. Use crimper or pliers to close.

You'll need to touch clips -one to each battery post. Note which way they light up. Add some red electric tape to the positive one.

Now to run your power set up.
Clip red to +, the other one to - posts.
Lightly put lid back on battery case.

Put dc USB plug in one of the dc sockets. Attach your phone or tablet cord to dc plug just as if you're using dash lighter socket.

To run small electric, insert 100 watt inverter and plug in.

A van is not a house. Forget electric hotplate, microwave, or electric heater. Not happening.

I have 2 dc universal plugs to run my laptop. Ebay $7.50

Never leave this setup unattended.

I'll cover charging battery in another post.

You may donate at paypal.me/LouBurgess if you like.

Vandwelling 101 - Oh Shit My Van Broke Down

If you travel fulltime, you need to learn to do basic maintenance and simple repairs.

I actually carry enough to do full teardown and rebuild... And it fits in one tote.

I travel on very limited funds. Mechanic shops just aren't in my budget.

Anyone wishing to help with current major repairs click this link. I'll either repay as soon as I can or pay it forward, your choice.

paypal.me/LouBurgess

So let's talk about what basics you need to do most repairs.

First you need a manual, either a Chilton or Haynes manual specific to your vehicle. They run about $30 at any auto parts store.

I have a haynes manual for Ford full sized vans. My van is a 99 Ford e150 V8 5.4L engine.

If you don't know which manual, your vin number is on your title. That tells them which vehicle make and model you have.

Tools
The basics. Mine all fit in a tote. 

Tire pump compressor. $10 Family Dollar

2-1/2 bumper jack. Autozone $54

Good lug wrench.

Battery jump cables. Good set. Thicker the wires the better.

Ratchet set with both sae and metric sockets. 

Autozone $10 set is good.

Hammer. 

Set of wrenches. Ace hardware $5

Set of pliers. Ace hardware $5

Serpentine belt tool. Harbor Freight $15

Set of screwdrivers. Ace hardware $5

Universal socket

Nutdriver, automatic screwdriver with set of bits. Walmart $10

While this is not a comprehensive list, with these tools you can fix almost anything

Vandwelling 101 - Cleaning Up Your Act

Here's one of many ways to get clean in a van.

What you need
-way to heat water
-big pot of some type
-soap
-washcloth
-plastic cup

First I heated water using an alcohol stove in a sterno stove frame.

To make alcohol stove,
Take small can...Vienna sausages, or small can from tuna, chicken, ham.

Put a couple of napkins in it, used is fine. Fill with 70% isopropal alcohol.

Set in stove frame, light, put covered pot on it. I used my stovetop percolator.

Fill big soup pot with a couple of inches cold water. Add hot water until it's a comfortable tempature.

Grab plastic cup and wet hair. Use Castile soap to work up lather and wash your hair.

Lean over pot and using a cup, dip water and pour over your head until clean.

Now using washcloth, wet your body. Add a little soap to washcloth and scrub.

Rinse washcloth and use it to rinse your body.

Get dressed.

Disposal of water.

Pour water by tree roots at least 200 ft from any water source. Tree roots and sandy soil help purify the water.

Remember, less is more.
Your body gets clean by brisk scrubbing rather than lots of soap.

Odor is caused by dead skin cells, moisture, oil. Scrubbing will take care of that.

Vandwelling 101 - Cheap Entertainment

What to do to other than being online all the time?

I carry a backgammon set, a portable travel set of dominos, about 10 dice, and a deck of cards.

I need to find 4 good decks of pinochle cards. I love a good game of double deck partners pinochle.

I also plan to add a cribbage board to my small games hoard.

My entertainment takes up about the same room as a laptop and is imagination powered. Sometimes you just need to unplug.

It's definitely worth getting good cards with plastic coating. You can wipe down with a damp cloth, play a hand or two through baking soda in middle, and they're as good as new.

Rather than expensive bulky board games, this small list offers endless entertainment.

Check back later, I'll update this entry with photos