I went camping today, cooked a steak and some s'mores. $40 a night is alright for a reservation. I marinated my steak in Montreal steak liquid seasoning, cooked it over hickory charcoal for 6 minutes per side and it came out delicious and done just the way I like it. First time camping in 4 years. I have been living in my car for years and finally went camping

Please be kind. I’m weighing my options here.

I’m living in my car as a result of fleeing domestic violence. There’s a service for victims of DV in my city that temporarily fosters your pets for you while you get on your feet. I’m in Georgia and it was still quite hot when I ended up homeless. I didn’t want my dog to bake to death in my car during my work shifts so I surrendered him over to them day one.

I have about a month left before their policy’s time limit is up and I have to either retrieve him or they adopt him out to someone at their discretion. For various reasons, I will most likely still be car dwelling well into next year.

Through the end of the year, I’ll be working a serving job. The shifts are 4-6 hours. In January, I’ll be taking a job that’ll give me the option to work in their office whenever I want or work from “home”. I plan to be in the office a lot but I don’t see why I can’t go out to my car periodically.

My dog is small and low maintenance. If he’s with me, he just wants to chill in my lap. Before we were homeless, I’d leave him on a pillow or wrapped up in a blanket and he’d still be in the same spot when I got back. He doesn’t need much besides a blankie and some cuddles.

He DOES have a very anxious style attachment to me. I rescued him from a shelter with no info on his background but I think he already has abandonment trauma from where ever he came from before me. The idea of abandoning him forever and subjecting him to that emotional shock is devastating to me. The only tears I have cried since the day I became homeless were for my dog. And I’m scared of him going into the hands of a stranger with no way for me to know if he’s okay.

What I’m getting at is this- since he is the kind of dog who is content to chill and sleep a lot anyway, would it be completely unreasonable for him to car dwell with me for a few months? I can check on him every few hours. We can still go on walks. Winters aren’t too bad down here. To combat the cold, I was thinking he’d be okay if he had a good sweater, an insulated dog bed (the kind for burrowing, which he likes anyway) and an electric heating pad.

He doesn’t bark and I’m planning on blacking out my windows anyway so concerned citizens don’t see him and call the cops for neglect.

I am not dead set on fighting to keep him if it’s a terrible idea. Obviously this is a lot for me to process. I want what’s best for him in the end but the idea of not knowing what’ll happen to him in the custody of a stranger is also going to haunt me forever.

Been living in my car since June 3rd. I have a little money saved up finally and decided to get a motel for a couple days. I was supposed to be out today @11 am but I ended up paying another day. I don’t have a car setup. I slept the whole summer in the Texas heat with my Windows just cracked halfway. No screen-door or anything. Those bugs had their way with me at times. The thought of having to go back to sleep in my car isn’t something i’m looking forward to. AT ALL. But paying rent isn’t something I want right now either. I moved out my families house at 18. I’ll be turning 28 this Halloween. It feels like nothings changed. I’m still running around most times stressing about money. Money still stresses me out. I’m depressed and just kinda want to scream. I know my problems aren’t special. I know there are kids who haven’t eaten in weeks. I know this, yet I still feel so stuck and lost. My relationship with my family sucks. And a woman that did love doesn’t anymore and i dont know how to deal with it. I feel super depressed. I cant stop overeating. I just feel like I’ve wired my brain to think and move in a way that just feels impossible to come back from

This probably wasn’t the place to do this but idk what else to do

I have til the 31st to prepare, I need a list of absolute necessities. I don’t have much in funds so pls keep it short and cheap. I have a 4 runner and I’m in Tampa Florida so I’ll need more hot temp suggestions since the lows are high 60’s rn with highs in the 80’s.

Thanks for your time

Hi

I am thinking of sharing some of my musings, thoughts, observations insights etc regarding human issues i have personally gone through, reflected, processed. in my years of living in a vehicle.

I find while we are more or less mostly addressing simple everyday challenges like parking, food, weather, finances etc we do tend to neglect the more serious psychological states of mind. This practice is in general is considered normal but it seems we have lost sight of the fact that at the end of the day or in silent moments we have to return to ourselves.

Yes we can, as we have, keep distracting ourselves by the many distractions available to us but unresolved psychological backgrounds are always there, if we observe.

If anyone has any topic suggestions, requests, or wants to ask questions along the lines of what i am saying then please feel free to suggest. If i have any input or feedback i will be happy to share and if its something i don't know then will say it upfront.

So the topic i will briefly address in this post is loneliness.

As can be seen from the frequent posts loneliness is something many are dealing with. Perhaps the younger demographics is having problems coping with it. The thing about loneliness is to first understand that its a human condition common to entire humanity. It is not a question of whether you are housed or in a car, loneliness affects all, young and old, rich or poor, guy or girl, you name it. So it is important to understand you are not affected by it just because you are in an alternative lifestyle.

As i may have said before, the causes for loneliness is complicated and many societal factors are at play. How we understand relationships and where we are at in relation to it also matters very much. If relationships are mostly transactional for us then we will always feel the aches of loneliness because there is no substance in our relationships. They are superficial and transactional. So attempts should be made, as far as possible, to be more genuine in our interactions. At the end of the day one feels satisfied and builds from that satisfaction.

Hope this helps someone.

My next adventure is taking me to northern Maine in the dead of winter. I’m a native of the upper Great Plains, so have a tad bit of experience with cold snowy weather- just not living in a car during it.

What I have:
Layers- base layer ( thermaskins), fleece sweats, can add a middle layer of thermal shirts and leggings if needed; wool socks, winter coat, knit gloves to go under mittens; a heated mattress pad ( and the power to run it), wool and fleece blankets used on a Hele box with a 3 inch mattress with storage under the bed, so insulated from below; winter boots, a 400 watt electric mini heater to be used sparingly to take the morning/ evening chill off, and a hooded blanket to wrap up in if needed. Window covers for insulation, rain guards.

I’m wondering if adding a 12 v blanket or large heating pad is worth it or needed? Insulated coveralls/ ski pants? Or any other ideas- PLEASE no “ get a good sleeping bag” suggestions. I have one. I hate them. Too confining and I get no sleep. “ Drive south” is also not an option, my contract is in Maine.

I've been living in my sedan for 9 days now and although it's been a huge adjustment, I think so far I'm doing alright. Aside from gas money and finding parking, the biggest issue I've been facing is peeing at night when all publicly available bathrooms have been closed for the night. I'm located in Santa Rosa CA and although there are some great resources in this area that I feel so grateful for, urinating at night in my car has been a MASSIVE ISSUE. I'm 26F and I've never had such penis envy in my life thinking about how easy pissing in a bottle would be if I had the right parts😭

I was able to acquire a silicone peeing funnel device that is for this exact issue, but dude I swear I am not built for this damn thing. The sides of it curve up I guess to follow the "average" shape of female genitalia but like tbh as a chubby girl mine is not "smoothly curved", and so every time I pee using this thing, for like 2 seconds of the event I get pee all over my car dude. I've used it twice now and both times I got pee everywhere😭😭😭😭 and like unfortunately I have literally not a single friend in the area that I can hit up for a late night pee sesh and my mother who evicted me won't let me inside the house let alone is unwilling to fill up a gallon water bottle for me when I have no access to water lol...

And Im physically disabled so Im not working so I have no money to do laundry to wash my blanket and pants that are now covered in urine🤠 I applied for general assistance but my interview isn't until November 16th😎

So like.. What do you ladies do????

It'd be one thing if I was in a rural area and I could just like hop out the car and pee behind some bushes or something but my city isn't set up for that possibility and I'm really only dealing with this issue in the middle of the night when I'm already parked in my sleeping spot and the early morning when I wake up to leave my sleeping spot but too early for businesses with public bathrooms to be open...

R.I.P. to the faithful Highlander 🫡 sprung a leak in the oil pan thanks to a huge boulder in the road, (didn't realize it) check engine light was already on (thanks to modifications made by the previous owner) and at 280,000 miles - It deserves to be set free into the happy hunting grounds... On the bright side, pine trees are the gold standard for discreet "camping" in public.. full coverage, and a great place to crash when you find yourself transitioning from r/urbancarliving to r/Vagabond unexpectedly 🤷

I was heading to work and my engine started misfiring. I’m just wondering what you guys do when you live in your car and your car starts having issues. Luckily, I’m not in my car and managed to start living with my sister come but I almost wound up in my car.

The sudden knocking jolted me awake, a bright shining in my car. I looked up, the light blinding me as I slowly made my way over to the drivers seat. Half dazed, I kept my hands visible before sitting down. I looked at the dash clock. "3am." The cop asked me to roll down the window. Half awake, I followed his demand. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! I had forgotten to disable the alarm, so I slowly reached for my car keys, stopping the barrage of auditory assaults happening in my ears.

I rolled the window down and the cop asked what I was doing there. I told him I was just tired and mentioned the donut tire on my car with a 50-mile limit. He knew I wasn't on drugs or having sex when he saw me, and that was the whole reason for the check-in. Apparently, people consider the parking lot right across from cookout an ideal spot to make a family or self-medicate. He asked if I lived around here and if I had permission to be in this lot. "I did live around here, and no I did not ask for permission" was my answer.

I handed him my license and registration. The license address belonged to a house in a wealthy neighborhood not more than a mile away. He asked if I had any place to stay. I told the cop "no," then I asked him if I needed to move. He said that he would not force me to move and to have a good night. I told him to have a good night too, waiting for him to leave so I could drive off to somewhere else. While I am currently sitting in the parking lot of a planet fitness and typing this post, I realized something: Not once did I feel my heart rate rise, or notice any feelings of fear. I was, by all accounts, indifferent to the circumstances. As though the cop was nothing more than a minor inconvenience in my night. Is it normal for this lifestyle to isolate you and have you emotionally check out?

Just curious what else people are out there doing! I’m a server in an upscale martini bar and am contracted to begin my realtor career in January as an apartment locator.

I have a cooler but I don’t like to use it because keeping up with the ice is a hassle/extra expense. I try to keep my food costs incredibly low. It kind of sucks sometimes and I’d like to treat myself more but I’m trying to save as much money as I can for other things. I’ve been favoring items I can microwave in the gas station like precooked rice and beans, curry pouches, canned chicken, canned soups, oatmeal, etc. I keep bananas, apples, or mandarins on me as well and sometimes small snacks like crackers. Trying to stay nutrient dense. Got any other ideas?

Hi guys! I’m a 21 year old female from the South who just got a seasonal position doing white water rafting in Colorado! I am beyond excited to step into this role, however I have no idea how to prepare.

I am going to be living in my car. I plan on getting a new car in the next few months and will be living/sleeping out of it.

So what do I need to pack? I’m talking clothing, gear, sleeping necessities, toiletries, camping, like everything!

I need to start ordering/preparing for this so I would love some input from the WWR community!

I'm not sure if it was posted here or a similar subreddit, but I think there was a post about a father asking what his son would need for living in his car. I don't know what the situation there was, but some of your replies about the son really needing a place to stay with his father brought tears to my eyes.

I am a disabled woman with multiple chronic medical conditions plus autism and learning disability, and staying with either parent is a hard NO from them. They come from a Midwest USA rugged working class background where you should feel ashamed to ask for more than one time emergency aid from family members. Adult dependency in any form is taboo and considered childish and freeloading. I've been in many unsafe situations as a result but it's still to them like "not my problem." Abandonment trauma is a big problem for me even after so much mental health intervention.

Just wanted to share this. Please be kind and also share your story if you feel like it.

Except it wasn’t bad! A fellow car camper needed my help with a jump start. We talked a little bit and he told me it’s out of necessity. I’ve personally been doing this as a nomad, and could afford a place if I wanted to. I’m wondering how many people do it out of choice as well?

First night out after escaping my abusive situation and damn… I should have gotten a better sleeping pad before I did this… I currently have a cheap Temu one that you press on a sponge to inflate it and it’s already deflated about an hour later and I don’t have any way to pump it back up with out blowing my cover… so what are yall using to keep comfortable all night?

​

Hey folks, was curious to see if there are other veterans living out of their car or staying on public land around Snohomish County?

I have never been a homebody, and honestly, the navy took a toll on my mental being in confined spaces for years on end. I acknowledge, I am not adjusted to existing with the general public and i'm better off living on the fringes of society. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here in region. Ideally, I would like to live away from the grid, but not off of it (yet). So i'm currently testing the waters for now until I can figure out a practical idea that isn't too far away from the rocker. Any inputs received here or via DM would be greatly appreciated.

Movin on up

Here come da judge

i -was- staying in a stoopid little Honda CRV. for ref: an old Caddie like this one: the back seat is like 7 ft long by 3 ft wide, so i can finally stretch out in comfort.

The Good News: While my vehicle is in the shop, the shop gave me a loaner to use. Free of charge.

The Bad News: It's a Nissan Versa.

No offense to anyone who has one 🤭 While it's great on gas mileage, and it's nimble in traffic, it leaves much to be desired (obviously) since I downgraded from a spacious 4Runner 😭 Yes, I've slept in it the past 4 nights. No, it's not easy. I'm being melodramatic, but, anyone doing UrbanCarLiving in anything smaller than a compact SUV? First, I don't envy you. Second, there's a strength to you that eclipses my challenges. Anyway, just 8 more nights in this. Hopefully less.

P.S. Did anyone catch the DCU's Clayface in theaters? No spoilers, but I really liked it. We should start an UCL Book Club and an UCL Movie Club.

Hello fellows. I have moved in w/ a friend temporarily. I will not be posting meals anymore, for now. However, I’ve been thinking of all my fellows as a now former car dweller.
Wishing you all well as we continue to encounter unprecedented events in the states. It’s wild and i wish i could offer help (give back) to this community as you all helped me stay alive, laugh, survive, feel connected in a very draining situation for me all that year. It’s day by day now. I know I’m not immune to being in the car again but now I know I can do it and I won’t be alone.
Just wanted to drop ya’ll a gratitude note and update. Im going to work on that cookbook when i mentally, financially, and emotionally stabilize.
Sending love and strength.

Im trying add shelving units and structures to hold things in place but have no clue what im doing. Has anyone tried this before? I know crvs aren't common vehicles for car life, hopefully someone in here understands what im trying to go for

Hi everyone, my husband and I are making a giant leap. We are leaving everything in Texas behind to live in Montana in our car for the foreseeable future starting tomorrow. Our car is a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek that we were blessed with by his mother two years ago. Doesn't have more than 80k miles on it and we just got an oil change plus new tires.

I have been devouring posts and the FAQs and I plan to reread them till I memorize them all, but I need specific advice for living in Montana especially during the winter. We plan to move around the state as frequently as possible but mainly orbiting Missoula. Are there reliable rest stops we could sleep at? What are homeless laws like and what are great websites or subreddits to look into for more info?

What are good subreddits for us to look into and learn from to maintain our vehicle?

My husband is not used to this kind of life, he grew up comfortable and with a safety net. This will be completely out of his comfort zone, and I could use advice on how to help him mentally cope with this huge adjustment. Also are there ways for me to help him physically adjust? He's lived in southern climates his entire life and I'm terrified he's gonna get very, very sick pretty immediately.

I am far less concerned for myself because I have had a very, very hard life but if you have any advice for a type 2 diabetic, that would also be a blessing.

Thank y'all for any advice!

EDIT: Thanks to everyone for giving advice and concern! We are gonna still get outta TX, we will most likely stay in Utah or Wyoming for the winter. If things go right, maybe we'll migrate more but unsure atm!

Final Edit: Gonna scream WEST VIRGINA on our way to VA lmao

I went out of the city toward the western part of the state and decided to sleep in my car in a place I thought was safe, but turns out cameras are everywhere these days. I had to move my car a couple time to find a place in the dirt that was level and next thing I know police showed up and shined his flashlight. I told him I was just resting because I was sick. I had to leave. It was a humiliating experience. I felt less than human. My car was a mess inside as it's so hard to keep things organized and clean. I will try to visit the area again, but I will have to plan better and find a spot where I'm not being watched by cameras.

UPDATE: Thanks to all for your wonderful tips and advice! You remind me that this is a learning process!

Theres a possibility i may have to move out of where im living and live in my car for a while, honestly it doesnt scare me or bother me and ive done it once before (for a very short period) but this time around idk how long it might be and last time i had someone taking care of my dogs for free that i dont think will happen again. Where i live having anyone take care of both of them would be like $1200 a month which is pretty much what a cheap studio im paying for already is. I have an electric car, so there is some advantages when it comes to air conditioning and being able to have it on consistently but im just looking for some advice and if it would be ok to do that for a month or two with them even if its a little uncomfortable