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Living out of my Toyota Tacoma while traveling North America
- Thread starter Savage
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Just stumbled on this thread. What an adventure! Hope to hear more about it as you progress. Stay safe, have fun and make some great memories. Good luck with it!
Don’t think that’ll work. I’ve tried my iPad to be charged from the cigarette charger in the past while using it for navigation and it lost charge faster than it could charge up.
MacBook requires more voltage than that cigarette charger can generate.
I figured. I’ll stick to my regular DC connection then. Thank you.
Now I see it clearer. Dropped? Still works I would hope.Ah destroyed MacBook.
I would be asking the same thing if I saw this thread posted by someone else, so no worries.
I'm able to do this because I did around 7 years in the USMC, made it to E-5 (decent rank that has decent pay), busted my back, and ended up getting medically retired. The last part means I get a disability check every month, forever. This equals to about $40k of "free", non-taxable income a year. I then make a very small amount from the Toyota Tacoma forum I run (like, very small, and I only use that money to put it back into the forum, so it is not even worth mentioning). My wife is working as a CNA, so her pay is decent too until she leaves for our road life (whenever COVID allows us to). We are aged 29 and don't have kids, nor do we plan to anytime soon.
That's the income. What about the expenses? The camper on the back of the truck was $15k. I paid in cash using a savings account. The truck itself was purchased in 2017 with no intent of using it like this. I think the loan is $470 a month (automatic payments; don't even need to think about it honestly). The modifications done to the truck itself are waaaayyyy more than I probably think they are because I don't keep track. My guess would be $10-15k? How is that justified? Am I crazy?
Nah, I don't think I am. The mods have been spread over 3 years, and while they're not fully done yet, they are all highly functional and really do make a difference. I don't add anything just for show. Also, trucks like this have been my thing since I was little, and my wife digs them too. Same thing with being in the outdoors and just seeing beautiful new places. What good is your money if you don't spend it to make the best memories you can until the day you inevitably die, right?
Last note about the truck and its mods: Taking it to the "extreme" that I do actually gets me "noticed" or "popular", if you will. This is NOT my intent and I will never sell out and accept sponsors and become a robotic advertisement. But. It is cool that people all over the country know who I am, know about my Tacoma forum, and know my truck. Plenty of people say hello to me in public because they recognize the truck. In the off-road world, this is a pretty common thing, so I'm not special or anything, but it does feel kind of wholesome sometimes.
Onward with the other expenses...
Two cellular data plans: $160
Two dog insurance policies: $60 each
Truck insurance: $90 per 6 months
Truck fuel economy: about 12 mpg, fill up is around $50 and happens once or twice a week
Health insurance: Free for both of us because of the military disability
iCloud and Spotify: $10 2 tb family plan, $15 family plan
Cost for food and dog food per month: I have no idea. Who cares. You gotta eat.
Bonus stuff that doesn't "count" to me because any of it can be stopped if we needed to:
Amazon Prime
Will probably have a subscription to a cell service booster for remote areas
Paying for my new iPhone 11 Pro and new MacBook Pro 2020 monthly, with the Apple Card. I don't count this because I only did that to have the iPhone yearly upgrade and be more in the Apple ecosystem by using the Wallet app. If these payments were to get annoying, I'd just pay them both off at once.
Buying crap at random: new gear, smaller truck parts, patches from National Parks, random Amazon Prime stuff, etc.
So, idk if this seems like a lot or a little, but to us, it is cheaper than what a normal lifestyle would be, especially if you factor in a mortgage and all other expenses that come with owning a house. I would honestly love to hear your guys' opinions on this post. Maybe we are crazy?
@Northern Man -- yes, dropped. Fell out of my truck kind of violently when I opened the door. $1,800, bought sometime last week. I'm not really mad though. Plus, I choose not to use a case, so this is what I get. I honestly might see how dented and scratched I can let it get (not by doing it intentionally). It being a 2020 MacBook, having that many scratches and some dents might actually get to the point where it is almost artistic or cool looking, lol.
Thanks for serving, and sorry to hear about yoru back!
Lucky deal - you probably make more that way than being enlisted. (Uncle Sam always bursts your bubble when looking at one's income versus take-home pay!)
My advice is for her to seriously consider how this might impact her career and her earning potential down the road...
Still kids! ;-)
Living within your means is one of the greatest financial decisions a person can make.
I agree that I'd rather spend my money on *experiences* versus on *possessions*.
The only things I would challenge you one are...
1.) You both likely have a LONG ways to go before you die. Travel is fun, but *purpose* is what makes life worth living. The travel and exploration will become old quicker than you think - been there, done that in my 20s.
Some day you'll have to/want to "come home", and then what?
2.) What are you going to after #1 comes true?
Even if you can stay on disability your whole life, it doesn't mean you can stop living or having purpose.
Not sure if you ever went back to work if you'd lose the disability?
Your wife certainly should consider what happens after #1 comes true. But even you, a pup at 29, needs to figure out "What do I want to do with the rest of my life?!"
Taking a few years off is great - I basically did this in my 20s and it's probably why I am so broke!! The experiences I had will last a lifetime. But in the end, work often equates to "purpose", and as a Marine and a male, you certainly need lots of that.
Just some things to consider... ;-)
Happy travels!!
As for her career: She has a spot in her hospital indefinitely. She just needs to renew her license every two years. When she moved to California with me because I was stationed there, she left the CNA job and didn't work as one in Cali. After three years we went back to New York and she got right back into her hospital. She's also 40% done with schooling to become a nurse, which was also cut short because of the Cali thing. After road life, she wants to finish school for nursing (and yes, she will have to retake some credits she already had).
Thanks for serving, and sorry to hear about yoru back!
Lucky deal - you probably make more that way than being enlisted. (Uncle Sam always bursts your bubble when looking at one's income versus take-home pay!)
My advice is for her to seriously consider how this might impact her career and her earning potential down the road...
Still kids! ;-)
Living within your means is one of the greatest financial decisions a person can make.
I agree that I'd rather spend my money on *experiences* versus on *possessions*.
The only things I would challenge you one are...
1.) You both likely have a LONG ways to go before you die. Travel is fun, but *purpose* is what makes life worth living. The travel and exploration will become old quicker than you think - been there, done that in my 20s.
Some day you'll have to/want to "come home", and then what?
2.) What are you going to after #1 comes true?
Even if you can stay on disability your whole life, it doesn't mean you can stop living or having purpose.
Not sure if you ever went back to work if you'd lose the disability?
Your wife certainly should consider what happens after #1 comes true. But even you, a pup at 29, needs to figure out "What do I want to do with the rest of my life?!"
Taking a few years off is great - I basically did this in my 20s and it's probably why I am so broke!! The experiences I had will last a lifetime. But in the end, work often equates to "purpose", and as a Marine and a male, you certainly need lots of that.
Just some things to consider... ;-)
Happy travels!!
As for my life: I'm different. I can't do the 9-5 grind. That was why I joined the military. So, my goal is to because my own boss and my only employee. One option would be something called hot shot trucking because I love to drive (if you don't know what it is, it might not be what you think), another is to work in the world of 4x4 trucks (this is broad; there are a lot of ways to do this), and one might be to drop-ship or physically open a 4x4 parts store (I was a mechanic). The latter would obviously have employees and be more than a LLC.
Getting bored of road life: Sure, that could, and probably will happen when we start feeling like we have "seen" the whole continent. But we have two ~15 day cross-country trips plus hundreds of shorter weekend trips under our belts and couldn't get enough. Our dogs love it too. We also LOVE the community and meeting other people who do this. Conversations with strangers are great on the road. The other thing keeping us busy will be filming videos for YouTube, participating in most 4x4 expos (there are many), and having a social media presence to bond with.
About the house: We had a beautiful house in Cali, on base, and we didn't want to move out of it when I discharged. But we did, and we still miss it. We were really good at keeping up a house. We have similar and slightly eccentric design tastes and we love anything we do to be DIY. Owning a house can be very DIY. So, when the time comes to do it again, we will be excited to hunker down in a new house. Especially since it will mean 1) we get to pick our state (probably CA or WA), we get to have a driveway and garage which means we can start collecting and working on old trucks that we wish we had, and 3) the military thing also gives me a no down payment home loan that has some other perks.
Lastly, we expect to save money living on the road. Whether that does or doesn't happen is just something we will benefit from or have to overcome when we get there.
Experiences and purpose... Eh, I think this one is personal preference / belief. I'm not as much into purpose right now. We are pretty serious about saving the Earth and wild animals, and we do what we can to contribute, but I wouldn't say it is my purpose to make the environment a better place. I wouldn't say it was my purpose to serve in the military. I want to live my life to the fullest while I'm young. Doing something like this after retirement at 60+ does not sound as appetizing to me. Again, this is just my opinion, and I get where you are coming from.
Good, so she has a plan for the "after this..." part.
I'd encourage her to at least get her RN...
So you don't lose disability if you can go back to work??
Everyone is different, but I suspect the "newness" will wear off quicker than you think.
Also, it is a landmine to do what you love as a "job".
What are you going to do in two years when you are tired of full-time travelling? Go on a trip?
Distance makes the heart grow fonder...
If you see the whole country and do most everything you want, then what?
I say go do your thing for a year or two, but then reeling things back in for a while might make the most long-term sense.
So that will be waiting for you when you are ready.
If you do it right, I believe it can be done - especially if you are in Cali!
"Purpose" does not mean saving the world...
"Purpose" means finding something life that fulfills you *long-term*...
Maybe that is being in the military? Or a hotshot driver? Or running a garage? Or being a nurse? Or being a Big Brother/Big Sister? Or...
Every day you get up you should look forward to doing something, and most likely a similar thing.
Some people can live on a beach theri entire lives, or perpetually travel, or just watch TV 24/7, but I think most here would agree that is pretty short-lived because it is "entertainment" and not "purposeful".
******
I wish you and yours luck in this new adventure!!
One thing I would serious DING you on is all of this interconnectedness you have...
IF you insist on having cell-phones and Internet and TV every day, then you are TOTALLY missing the point of doing what you are doing!!
I recall a 7-week, 30+state roadtrip I took in my 20s, and I recall one day asking some stranger, "What month is it?"
THAT should be the state you are seeking!
You can write notes about your trip on an UN-conected laptop and share it with us when you get back.
But if you are on your cell all day and surfing the Internet, and watching TV at night, then you are NOT on a true roadtrip/journey/expedition/walkabout...
Either choose to stay conected and online and stay home, or get off the grid and experience REAL LIFE.
(And don't tell me a Marine can't shake it going offline for at least a few weeks...)
Take my advice on this point and you'll thank me forever...
I had such a large dent in a work MacBook Air I had to take a file to it as it kept cutting my wrist! Had another 17" MacBook Pro where the Magsafe connecter was so bent we had to take pliers to it to get a connection! Anyway hope it still works.
As for if the whole house/mortgage thing or what you are doing is better or not, depends on ones own circumstances and hopes and dreams. I always wanted to buy my own place. Did that and paid of the mortgage by my mid 30's. But then our circumstance changed and I recently bought a bit of a house wreck in the country. Took on another small mortgage and set about making some big changes. That was in December last year. Now its nearly done and we are happier than we were in our old place. Certainly not planning to move again. They can carry me out of here in a box!
Safe and happy travels. Good luck to you both.
Regarding "all this interconnectedness" (phones, internet, tv)....
Times are different now and one can make choices about how connected or disconnected one wants to be. It is also somewhat dictated by the environment and times you grew up in.
I am 61 and certainly find today's communication tools useful but I can say 100% truthfully that I am so so glad that when I did my post-university 3 month backpacking trip through much of Europe in 1982 cell phones were not a thing. I was in "the moment" without distractions whether talking in a cafe with new friends, viewing museums, walking an empty beach, walking through East Berlin, taking numerous trains etc. I had to go to a local post office in Athens to have the operator place a international call to Canada so I could let my mother know I was alive and well. Took a few pictures with a real film camera and kept a few notes. No crowds taking mindless selfies and not appreciating where there are. Call me an old timer but I feel very fortunate to have been able to see what I did in the way I did.
Times are different now and one can make choices about how connected or disconnected one wants to be. It is also somewhat dictated by the environment and times you grew up in.
I am 61 and certainly find today's communication tools useful but I can say 100% truthfully that I am so so glad that when I did my post-university 3 month backpacking trip through much of Europe in 1982 cell phones were not a thing. I was in "the moment" without distractions whether talking in a cafe with new friends, viewing museums, walking an empty beach, walking through East Berlin, taking numerous trains etc. I had to go to a local post office in Athens to have the operator place a international call to Canada so I could let my mother know I was alive and well. Took a few pictures with a real film camera and kept a few notes. No crowds taking mindless selfies and not appreciating where there are. Call me an old timer but I feel very fortunate to have been able to see what I did in the way I did.
That bonus may stop once you cross the border and leave the country unless you use a VPN to fool it into thinking you are still in the US. Most of them services are only available to you while you are in the country you are subscribed in. You also mention cell phones I see a hell of a roaming bill on it coming unless you have some kind of world unlimited plan I have never heard of. Good luck and have a good trip once you get to it.
I probably would've done wayyyy better in college academically if I didn't have phone, internet etc.
Op are you 100% DoD? I was honorably discharged in 2013 after 5 1/2 years with a pending med board that I never went to. I didn't care for it and wanted to get out on time and start school. Then last year with some encouragement. I applied for correction to DD214 and got a retroactive medical retirement dating back to 2013 with 70%. The back pay, was nice to say the least lol.
Seeing stuff like this makes me ponder if I should do this, and I have a 2019 tacoma as well!!
I am, yes. And that back pay must have been insane!
I was going to reply to some of the posts above about phones and such. Instead, I’ll just say one thing: We spend 90% of our time in the moment (no social media) and 10% sharing it on the internet. But that 10% for us can basically appear as whatever we want it to, to the internet. If we’re showing the internet 10% of our time, that 10% to us is still 100% of what the internet is seeing.
That is probably a super confusing analogy, sorry.
Anyway, the wife added some sweet Australian style LED fog lights to our bumper yesterday. A small update, but an update nonetheless. I think they look rad.
When do you depart? I'd certainly not want to go without the internet is this day and age. You get used to having it there.
Would have been on the road in March. But we’re waiting for the country to learn to wear masks first.
Finally got my tire carrier modified to fit around my camper:
Current truck status... handling a lot of other things at once:
Current truck status... handling a lot of other things at once:
Been a while since I've posted in here, but I did a thing. Only took nearly a year but I finally made a video of the camper. Filming videos makes me feel like a lobotomy would probably be more fun. Let me know where I can improve. 🖤
Also, the gimbal has a mind of its own I swear its not me.
Also, the gimbal has a mind of its own I swear its not me.