Divorce Vehicle - Need Tips

yeah, that was tongue firmly in check post. should have been more clear. running a turbo diesel all night.......

Ahh, there's the rub. Are the refurb modules from 2004, 2005,......2013? A mish-mash of years is most likely. They have year codes printed on them so one can tell. Warranties and their ability to back them up are very important. You can buy a dorman (a very reputable auto parts company) refurb battery from most major auto parts stores. They use to have a great 3 year warranty but have recently dropped it to 1 year. Does that tell you something?

FWIW

 

Also should mention that there are/were a lot of posts about using their Dorman warranty. Which is just annoying as a consumer.

 

salvage.

 

DUDE!! If you're going to sell it in a couple of years or soon after sure recondition, used/junk yard etc may be good. But if you're going to keep on using it, which I'm pretty sure you will because seriously you're going to fall in love with this vehicle. Then buy a BRAND NEW battery from TOYOTA. You can save the money in 3, 4 months time. Maybe even less. It'll last you another 8-10 years and you won't be worrying how many more years?! When you buy an old one, it's a mental thing, you're already mentally unstable living in the car don't stress yourself with batteries...seriously don't go cheap on battery. It's the heart/brain of this car...trust me, you'll want to keep driving it even after you're done with the car living thing

 

Not to be a smart a**, but I'd suggest just chill and be calm. Make the best decision you can to select the Prius you purchase. Worry about a new/reconditioned battery if or when it comes up. Hopefully, it won't.

And even a dead Prius is pretty good shelter. Roof over your head. Security from things that go bump in the night. Worst case scenario, you get it towed to a Walmart or somewhere equally friendly until you get some cash to fix it. It's all good.

If you are going to be living in it, you'll want to do some stealth mods. Check out this blog:
Brent's Travels
especially the part about blocking out the windows. He does curtains for the front, I think a front windshield screen is better.

Also, most people push the passenger's seat forward; I think the better plan is to completely recline the seat back, put something on the seat, then put a cut sheet of plywood on top to make things level from the glove compartment back to the tail gate. Andre the Giant could sleep comfortably in this car.

 

Not sure how comfortable you would be buying across the border, but with the exchange rate in your favor you might actually score a newer more reliable car. Here's a 2010 asking for Canadian $5700 which at the current exchange rate of US$0.77 would be around US$4389. If your good at haggling, you might be able to haggle it down to your price.


2010 Toyota Prius 5dr HB - SCARBOROUGH $5,700 | autoTRADER.ca

 

I'm sorry if I sounded insulting Electric. I hear the myth of buying an old school bus and fixing it up so often from my friends (even from my nephews) I get tired pointing out it's just a romanticized idea that's just not practical. RVing has been so long here in North America there is really no need for that. You can buy a Motorhome or an RV at almost any price you prefer. You just need to be willing to deal with a few problems which is a lot easier and less expensive than buying parts and making expensive experimental mistakes building your own. Most of them are built on very reliable van/truck platforms too. Here is a Class C for the $2,000 you mention (which is only $1,500 U.S.):


1989 Corsair FORD E-350 - WELLAND $2,000 | autoTRADER.ca

 

I like your attitude, very upbeat. For your situation I would definitely get a plug in. Year of first plug-in is 2012. This will cut down on gas consumption for local driving. Joining a cheap fitness club is another good idea, with many benefits, and not just taking a shower.
Your plan on traveling with a Prius is not negative and one never knows what opportunities may arise.
It all depends on what your short term goals are?
You need a contact point, a address, of course a cell phone, a gym with a 110V outlet.
The biggest unforeseen expense may be Auto Insurance.
Wishing you SUCCESS, keep in touch..
PS If you can find retired people selling a Prius that is the best bet.

 

+1

Start a separate thread when you begin living the hobo life!
Good tip about the gym...
Where I live community colleges offer gym memberships for $20-25 per.
The Planet Place is also a really cheap way to do the shower thing.

PO Box:
Shop around....
"Renting a small P.O. box for six months costs as little as $19 in some locations, while in other locations the cost is $75. A full breakdown of the costs in each region is available on the U.S. Postal Service website......"

 

Once upon a month...I was homeless, jobless, and recently divorced....and I spent that month with a friend driving to all four corners of the country and mostly living out of a car.
Flexibility and expectation management can make it one of those 'growth spurts' in life that you look back on with fond memories in a decade or two.

Or?

It will be a living nightmare that you run screaming from as quickly as you can, and break out in a cold shivering sweat when you think about it because it might happen again.
Mostly what goes on between your earlobes will decide on which is which.

Remember the part about the flexibility!
One thing that that month taught me was that you almost always need a plan B...C....etc.

Not to throw....(*) ah, 'cold water' on your idea, but the Road Shower is cute...I guess, but camp showers have been around for a while....
Camping Showers | Amazon.com

Good Luck!!!

 

Hopefully, you are a guy -- that makes the bathroom situation easier!

The RoadPro Portable stove is great:
RoadPro 12-Volt Portable Stove

You purchase disposable aluminum loaf pans to use inside the portable stove, which are pennies apiece, and then there is no cleanup. Any "heat and serve" meal in the grocery store cooks in about 15 to 20 minutes. THere is a whole range of 12v cooking products, but that is the easiest by far.

Refrigeration is much harder. You can get a portable electric refrigerator (such as the efficient ones made by Engel manufacturing)
12 Volt Fridge Freezers

But that adds a layer of complexity and substantial power draw. The other alternative is a cooler with ice, which would need to be replaced every two to three days at a cost of about $2.00 per bag (depending on where you are in the country). On the one hand, its kind of a hassle to get ice every few days. OTOH, your food storage space will be minimal, so going to the store every few days lets you purchase food often and thus not store as much.

One thing to think about. Right now you are used to hanging out in your home. Once the Prius becomes home, you'll need to think about where you want to hang out in your free time. The Prius is awesome to sleep in; not so much to hang out in. Something to think about as you plan your travels.

 

Most good size Tuckstops also have inexpensive shower facilitys

 

Just by running the A/C and letting the car idol for hours is day in and day out is not idea. That puts a lot of stress on the battery constantly drained to two bars that can cause premature degradation. Idling is also bad for the engine.

 

Are there are any experts in the field or actual research that suggests idling is "bad for the engine?" The experts/actual research I found was to the contrary:

Ford Motor Company Fleet Division ran a study that indicated 200 hours of engine operation equals a 3 month or 3,000 mile maintenance cycle. So a full hour of idling is like driving the car 15 miles.
Maintenance Schedules
| fleet.ford.com

The "Car Talk" experts believe:
"But setting my environmental preferences aside, you can let any car idle with the AC on for a long time without doing any harm. As long as the cooling system is working properly, you should be able to sit in any modern car you buy and let it idle indefinitely. Or at least until you run out of gas. Or need to pee. "
Idling with AC on won't harm your car. | Click and Clack Talk Cars | richmond.com

Depending on the weather and the climate control difference you are asking it to provide, a Prius left ON all night will start approximately four times, for about three minutes. That's 12 minutes of idling per night.

 

It all sounds very logical to me. I doubt our friend Mr Hybrid Hobo would be all that concerned
with the minutia of the Prius when better adventures and challenges await him. Buying and opera-ting is in itself a learning curve.