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What is available for that price? Can't be sewer, water and electric. Is it just for the spot and no amenities?
Water at South LTVA, trash and bathrooms, just the toilet, at certain ones. Those of us in cars and tents are required to be by the bathrooms. There's no electricity or hookups.
What is available for that price? Can't be sewer, water and electric. Is it just for the spot and no amenities?
No specific spot, and no spot-specific amenities. An LtVA is not a formal campground, and is typically several hundred acres. What you are buying is dispersed camping on BLM land with the right to not have to move camp 20 miles every 2 weeks.
You find a spot you like, and you park there. the dumpsters, water spigots, etc are in a central location, in the LtVAs that have them. In all cases, if you want electricity, you bring your own.
I talked to my sister today. They're going to be on the lookout for a van for me. One good thing about living in a small town is that everyone knows everyone else so you also know if their vehicle is good or not.
I look forward to going home this summer. There are so many state parks in Minnesota, most of which I've never visited . My place to visit was always the family farm, since I lived in the city. The farm is on a lake and there's great fishing so family members congregated there.
Hi Meo - good to hear from you. It's really nice that you have family to help with picking out a good van. I watch youtube and some are so cute when the ladies are done turning them into a home. Our weather here has turned - no more arctic crap. Take care
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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What is your price range for van?
Do you want a campervan, or a minivan?
Just a thought.... I purposely avoid 'rust states' on used car purchase if I plan to keep forever.
Since you will only be in MN in summers, a non- rust state car should last forever.
I use a formula for future mileage @$0.10 per mile. Thus I will spend $10,000 to get 100,000 trouble free miles. I currently have car guru sending me info on one owner, non-rust state used minivans (GT or RT models only) under 40,000 miles and under $12,000
I usually buy from non coastal TX or GA, or AZ or CA. Often retirees to AZ sell their vans and RVs quite inexpensively.
Just a thought.... I purposely avoid 'rust states' on used car purchase if I plan to keep forever.
Since you will only be in MN in summers, a non- rust state car should last forever.
I use a formula for future mileage @$0.10 per mile. Thus I will spend $10,000 to get 100,000 trouble free miles. I currently have car guru sending me info on one owner, non-rust state used minivans (GT or RT models only) under 40,000 miles and under $12,000
I usually buy from non coastal TX or GA, or AZ or CA. Often retirees to AZ sell their vans and RVs quite inexpensively.
I'm thinking a minivan to start with. I would love a van though. Price? I'm not sure. I'd like to stay under $10,000. That would still leave a healthy sum in my emergency fund. So it'll probably have to be a minivan.
The thing about buying in Minnesota is that my sister's boyfriend is a mechanic and I trust him to check over a vehicle.
My van neighbor left the other day. I think he just got tired of non-car people constantly asking for favors, plus he said he was bored after 4+ months of being in the same spot.
I'm thinking of moving to a different LTVA myself. There's one person who, even after all this time, doesn't think ahead and call for a ride to the stores. There is a bus that picks people up but you have to schedule it a day in advance. He depended on other people taking him into town.
Since I have all but the drivers seat taken out, I'm not a good option. Two days ago he asked for food and a beverage that wasn't plain water. I always have juice and V8 and sparkling water and I gave him some, but it means I now have to replenish supplies since I can't stock a lot in this small car and I make sure I keep plenty of water.
I don't begrudge helping someone out who needs help, but he is consistent in asking for things. I think he came to rely on my friend too much and didn't feel he had to plan ahead. He also doesn't use common sense in budgeting. His last purchase was a power pack which requires a huge amount of power. But he didn't get a solar panel to charge it, instead he wants other people to do that for him.
I didn't know this so after my friend left, he asked me to charge it, conveniently forgetting to tell me it would take all day. I can charge what little I need in a couple of hours and then be on my way. His device took all day and still did not fully charge. When he came to get it, just before the sun set, he said he knew it would take 10 hours and that he was buying a solar panel when his check came in. I told him I was not willing to do it a second time.
Again, I don't begrudge the power but I do resent the waste of my time.
So, if he persists in his behavior, I will move to a different LTVA. I can't refuse a person food if I have it but asking for it constantly, especially when there is a food bank here, is way out of line, to my thinking. Not preparing, especially after 4 months, is foolish. Maybe I'm harsh, but I feel that after a month you should have your needs pretty well figured out. You take care of them first and then buy extras if you have excess funds at the end of the month, not the beginning.
I've pretty much decided to move on to Lake Havasu. I feel I've certainly gotten my money's worth here and it's time to move on. Lake Havasu is 14 day camping and still free BLM land.
The town has the London Bridge and a unique shopping center. Also a ferry to cross over to the casino if you want or just take a ride. It's time I explored more of Arizona before I go back to Minnesota.
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