dirt bagging in a city - long term

So I know to the outside world living out of your truck/van miiight be considered "homeless". But for some of us that do this on a regular basis it doesn't usually have such a negative stigmatism associated with it.
Bottom line I have a full size truck/camper shell that I have lived in for months at a time. But, up until this point it has always been a more temporary deal. Usually at or near climbing/camping areas where it is a more acceptable practice. I have done it in many a rest stop/metropolitan area but always for a few nights and usually nothing more.
Does anyone have any experience with this and would recommend or discourage doing it for a year or so to save money on rent/utilities/etc specifically in the San Fran bay, Santa Barbara or San Diego areas?

You can always live at Walmart. I've done it short term. I was there long enough that the morning and evening greeters knew me by name and the guys who worked in the TV department would play whatever movie I asked for at night.

The sinks have these auto timers on them and they are kinda small so it's hard to fill up anything bigger than a Nalgene, but other than that it makes good sense. It's free, legal and safe and if you pick the right Walmart you'll probably have neighbors too.

Pick one with a hill or trees or something that you can back up to so you'll have some privacy, and get curtains for the windows. Make sure it's not in the ghetto and you're good to go!

PS Walmart sells 32oz Fat Tire.

Don't come here we have enough street campers and the weather sucks. Besides stuffs not cheap, you won't save any money. If you do though 12th street seems to be the spot and we'll be neighbors.

Yea go for it. Although I recommend couchsurfing.org and hostels here in there for some comfort. Whatever you do, dont sleep in the Trestles parking lot. I got a ticket last year. Wal mart works to. Hope you get to catch some waves.

Just make sure you pick a good part of town. I'd much rather be woken up in the night by a cop or security than some meth head trying to bust into my car.

Like Ryan said, Walmart parking lots are good for a place to clean up and take a shit, I like McDs for that as well. Its a good feeling that the store and restaurant I hate the most take the brunt of the stink. I once was shaving/bathing in the bathroom of Safeway in Tucson right next to the store manager who had walked in halfway through. He was nice.

I like moving around every other day or so, finding which places are good on certain nights.

Tittie bars and climbing gyms are usually good spots as well.

I lived out of my truck for ~6 months in the bay area.
Had a shower at my job/office. I worked in Hayward and camped in the Santa Cruz mtns (across the Bay) in the Redwoods, or Castro Valley area.
I was a mtb'r back then (later 90's), and was either training or racing when I wasn't working, so it only made sense to camp near the trailheads!

If you want good climbing, surfing, mtb'ng, weather and camping, it's hard to beat Ventura County - from County Line (Leo Carrillo) to Carpinteria, and the coastal ranges.

Put an ad on craigslist asking to rent someone's driveway.

There's some good advice on this site: cheaprvliving.com/

I just spent a month or so in SB (actually mostly Goleta) and I thought it was alright. I've never spent a lot of time in SF or SD, and they both don't seem very appealing to me.
I got kicked out of 2 parking lots, hassled a few times (for sitting in my car during the day or looking conspicuous) found some good hot tubs and breakfast places, spent some time on the beach and bouldered a lot. There is decent free camping up in the hills by the boulders and if one had a job it might be worth considering doing that and commuting, or trying to find some creative more permanent location, maybe find a place to park your car and walk/bike to a camp on the beach or something for a change.
You probably know, or can imagine, the drawbacks; after awhile it sucks waking up in your car in a parking lot, it gets old having to move around a lot, and sometimes you feel like you might be crossing the tenuous line between dirtbag climber and bum (if there really is a line).
Have fun and remember you're not homeless you're just houseless.

Why bother cooking dinner? Free food at lots of homeless shelters.

Andrew Gram wrote:Why bother cooking dinner? Free food at lots of homeless shelters.

And dumpsters

Just curious for the people who have done this: how did your clothes situation work? Rotate through a small collection that you kept in your vehicle?

I think that'd be my biggest problem. I have so many clothes.

Kevin Sweet wrote:Just curious for the people who have done this: how did your clothes situation work? Rotate through a small collection that you kept in your vehicle? I think that'd be my biggest problem. I have so many clothes.

You just wear what you want. If you are really moving into your vehicle then you either have to store stuff or get rid of it.

I just did a three week stint in AZ and NM and noticed quite a few Wal-marts out there have "No Overnight RV Parking" signs / policy now. What gives?

During my undergrad at UCSD, I thought about living out a truck\RV to save money. I'm fairly sure this is standard in most cities, but in San Diego, living in a vehicle on a public street is technically illegal. See §86.23, section (f) of the San Diego Municipal Code below:

"It is unlawful for any person to use a vehicle while it is parked or standing on any street as either temporary or permanent living quarters, abode, or place of habitation either overnight or day by day."

Obviously, the Walmart option circumvents this particular statute.

I have a friend who is living out of his small RV in coastal (non-Walmart) San Diego right now. He hasn't been bothered, just moves down the block nearly every night, curtains over windows, no bright lights at night, etc.

Also, depending on where you work and your willingness to commute, the Ramona area and much of East SD County are non-incorporated communities, meaning the SD Municipal Codes is not applicable. This wasn't exactly feasible while I was going to school near the coast, but was nevertheless a super attractive option ( Mt. Woodson in my backyard!!).

If you're in San Francisco I recommend the parking lot at the Marin Headlands hostel from time to time and swimming in the ocean, walking a lot and going to the climbing gym regulary for all the benefits they offer. (Take advantage of not only the shower, holds, and weights but also the yoga and sauna i.e. Mission Cliffs) Truck living in the city can be stressful if you have too much stuff, a bad parking spot, or need to be moving very frequently. It also wreaks havoc on an automobile (especially if older) the constant stop and go driving.
Meeting a friend or acquaintance who will let you stay in front of their house would be a solid way to go and an obvious choice as long as the neighborhood was kosher.
Personally, I'm paranoid when I have too much stuff as the discrepancies in living that capitalism provokes can only eventually lead to someone trying to iron out the wrinkles.
Or just get a sublet in the East Bay. Cheaper, funkier, less hip and snob, but cool with its own edge, you can probably easily find a room with some twenty-somethings for $600. Good luck

Obviously one of the biggest worries doing some urban camping with a loaded rig is getting ripped off. On shift, you can park at your work, and hospitals usually have some semblance of security... Otherwise, have you considered trailer parks ('course, your methhead neighbor might be ripping you off), or KOA's (they are sometimes located near city centres)? While you'd be paying a bit, it should be considerably less than an apartment and you might be afforded more security.

Get a storage unit in a safe place! The less your vehicle looks like it has a lot of stuff the less likely it will get stolen or broken into, possibly with you in it.

YMCA/gym memberships are good for showering etc.

Keep the vehicle really clean, helps with neighbors and cops.

i've been living in my van for three years. if you have gainful employment you should get a place while you're in town. as others have stated, rent is cheaper than you think, and the risk to your life/stuff is not really worth it. seriously. but you'll figure it out on your own.

Nathan Scherneck wrote:I just did a three week stint in AZ and NM and noticed quite a few Wal-marts out there have "No Overnight RV Parking" signs / policy now. What gives?

I saw the same thing in Grand Junction. Someone from Walmart woke me up at about 7am (I was in a tent!) and said that it was a city ordinance and that Walmart has no control.

As for security, you can get a damn good car alarm for $250. If you're planning on keeping your vehicle it is a good investment. I have one and it gives me great peace of mind going to sleep. If anyone even bumps my car it's waking me up and they are probably running away.

I do agree with Anson though... if you are staying in town for a while it just makes sense to find a place to live. There are plenty of people, good people, who are having trouble paying their rent. It isn't that hard to find someone who will let you crash and store your stuff for a a hundred bucks, maybe two. I guess that depends on where you work but if you are trying this hard to save money as a nurse you have to think that there are just as many people out there that are doing the same... they just happen to have a great couch for you to sleep on!