Is JTree a free for all dumpster fire?

Nathan Bilthuiswrote:

I think people who desire to own vans and Subaru’s with rooftop tents but are curious about how to afford it, often neglect certain types of jobs. Or it’s too often assumed people who have those things are trust fund babies. Being a skilled tradesman can easily earn you well into the six figures. And those are jobs that don’t require degrees or any prior training. While labor intensive, and(depending on the trade) require a fair amount of intelligence, they can be rather lucrative and should definitely be considered a viable option for those who complain about not having a trust fund, so they can’t own a sprinter van and clutter up roadsides. 

A built out sprinter/pro master/equivalent and Subaru with a RTT are not in the same budget my dude

I agree about the skill/labor intensive jobs though. However, most of those positions don’t allow for months upon months of time off to travel. I totally get the weekend warrior vanlifers and the ones who live in the van instead of a home, but what truly baffles me is the vanlifers who are on the road 80-90% of the year and travel to every crag during prime season, yet still have a plethora of money. It just seems suspicious (read: to good to be true) as they are climbing all days, most of the day and chilling all night. I genuinely do not know a career outside the tech industry or free lancing some skill that would allow for that.

Should we start a new topic about what vanlifers do for money?

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

Those that think van lifers are scum  of the earth, none of you own a house right? 

What does that have to do with anything? We hate them because we are jealous lol 

Not Not MP Adminwrote:

What does that have to do with anything? We hate them because we are jealous lol 

The point I was making was that to buy a smallish house in Seattle is 500k. If you have a remote job why wouldn't you just buy a decked out sprinter for 100k and climb wherever you want? I agree it is mostly a jealousy thing especially by people who own a house worth far far more than a sprinter. 

Not Not MP Adminwrote:

A built out sprinter/pro master/equivalent and Subaru with a RTT are not in the same budget my dude

I agree about the skill/labor intensive jobs though. However, most of those positions don’t allow for months upon months of time off to travel. I totally get the weekend warrior vanlifers and the ones who live in the van instead of a home, but what truly baffles me is the vanlifers who are on the road 80-90% of the year and travel to every crag during prime season, yet still have a plethora of money. It just seems suspicious (read: to good to be true) as they are climbing all days, most of the day and chilling all night. I genuinely do not know a career outside the tech industry or free lancing some skill that would allow for that.

Should we start a new topic about what vanlifers do for money?

I agree with most of what you say, but I have run into people who are on the road and make decent incomes from sources such as Air B&B. These folks are usually in their 30s and 40s and are fortunate to own properties in desirable locations. I also ran into a guy who designed marine nuclear reactors on his rest days, and another who worked remotely on semi-autonomous submersibles. 

Go Back to Super Topowrote:

‘Twas but a joke Matthew. Those are all undeniably real work, yes and I don’t consider van lifers to be “dirtbags”.  The running joke amongst many that do not have vans is that van lifers are either trust fund babies or work in the tech industry. Sorry if that offends you…you must work in the tech industry or have a trust fund (another joke). 

Hah, sorry if I got a bit defensive. I don't work in tech or have a trust fund, but I often feel like I have to prove that the work I do is "real" (I'm a photographer), so that'd be why. Tone is lost in text. Carry on!

When I see most (not all) fully decked out sprinter van(s) my thought is not about the economic well-being of the occupants. I truly don't care if they are trust funders or working persons. 

My thought is: that van will NEVER get to my camp spots. 

Sometimes entitlement is 1 mile farther up the forest service road than any van can climb. That's where you'll find my rig; dispersed.

Go Back to Super Topowrote:

Sorry if that offends you…you must work in the tech industry or have a trust fund (another joke). 

Do you not see the irony of bitching about the tech crowd while typing on a computer into a cloud-based forum?

Jay Andersonwrote:

Do you not see the irony of bitching about the tech crowd while typing on a computer into a cloud-based forum?

Who is bitching? Lol 

splitclimberwrote:

Maybe Snyder will focus his attention on these illegal campers instead of bolts.

It seems to be happening, certainly plenty of shame to go around.

yes. I understand people have different priorities but I see an awful lot of gofundmes for climbers in their 30's-40's trying to "get back on their feet". Like, just because you chose not to make smart decisions for the first 20 years of your adult life does not mean everyone needs to buy you a car now. 

Go Back to Super Topowrote:

Yeah, but…..like, what do you do for work? 

Trust funds don’t count and tech/programming jobs shouldn’t count but I’ll allow it.

For real though. I am definitely jealous of those who live in vans that cost as much as a house…mostly because I am far too old to get a job that would allow me to make enough money AND utilize the van. Still looking though lol

Self employed residential interior painter. I have been in construction or done farm work since I was 15. No trust fund or parents money. I paid for my van in cash. When I’m climbing I’m 100% focused on climbing from sun up till sun down, when I work I usually do 80-90 hr weeks without weekends off.  

Jesus, the entitlement is illegal camping not the expensive "dirtbag" rigs they drive. All of the NPs are dealing with hoards of outdoor enthusiasts who just paid a bunch of money for "camping gear" and who think that everything should be free to them from here on out cause they heard dirtbagging was the way of the future. 

They are partially right even, the free camping is 30-40 minutes away dumbasses! Maybe I'm just speaking for myself but id rather stay in a scummy motel over literally sleeping on the road/parking lot. I need my early morning coffee pics to be Instagramable so I can gain more followers. Namaste.

I dunno, I thought the 4x4 sprinters are supposed to be pretty capable.

I said - (not all) ... and sure those 4x4 sprinters will get to some good places. They are not all that capable though. And don't you dare get sideways on a steepish hill with them. Turning around to get out of a bad spot, on the side of a steep hill? Holy shit, don't roll your $200k vansion! :)

I hear you about tons of 2wd options, spot on. My main point with 4wd is it can and does get me to places others don't go. Not, can't go; don't go. I have a few campspots in my rounds of climbing territory I have used for many, many years. I can camp there with reliable expectations that no one will drive up on me when I'm there. I like that. I simply won't go to areas when they are crowded, with only occasional trips to such places and hopefully on off days and season.

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

I said - (not all) ... and sure those 4x4 sprinters will get to some good places. They are not all that capable though. And don't you dare get sideways on a steepish hill with them. Turning around to get out of a bad spot, on the side of a steep hill? Holy shit, don't roll your $200k vansion! :)

I hear you about tons of 2wd options, spot on. My main point with 4wd is it can and does get me to places others don't go. Not, can't go; don't go. I have a few campspots in my rounds of climbing territory I have used for many, many years. I can camp there with reliable expectations that no one will drive up on me when I'm there. I like that. I simply won't go to areas when they are crowded, with only occasional trips to such places and hopefully on off days and season.

Have you ever driven a 4x4 sprinter, seen videos of people off-roaring with them, or know anyone who has off-roaded with them….or are you just speculating because they are tall they are going to flip over lol

Trust me, I make fun of sprinters more than most and the only decal on my truck is a “one less sprinter” sticker, but I can assure you that the 4x4 sprinters will get you to upwards of 90% of any climbing areas you are trying to get to.  

You can assure me any damn thing you want.   

I just fucking died at "sport camping" LOL!

So, I have a full size transit van set up for sleeping/camping. I use it for motorcycle racing primarily, and camping with my family secondary. I'm so embarrassed to drive it to the gunks that the few times that I've had to, I make my climbing partner meet me somewhere else that's not the gunks parking lot ;)
I don't even have a girl in braids to brush her teeth or make coffee with the back doors open.

The lumbering nature of a van makes it laughably bad off road. I've actually gotten stuck twice in gravel parking lots in my van. If it gets slightly off camber the van rocks HARD and pulls way too much weight off of a rear wheel and it just spins. I only have 2wd and no locker, and legit and larger M&S tires have helped a LOT but it's still really bad, like worse than my saturn on snow tires for sure. 

gtlukewrote:

I just fucking died at "sport camping" LOL!

So, I have a full size transit van set up for sleeping/camping. I use it for motorcycle racing primarily, and camping with my family secondary. I'm so embarrassed to drive it to the gunks that the few times that I've had to, I make my climbing partner meet me somewhere else that's not the gunks parking lot ;)
I don't even have a girl in braids to brush her teeth or make coffee with the back doors open.

The lumbering nature of a van makes it laughably bad off road. I've actually gotten stuck twice in gravel parking lots in my van. If it gets slightly off camber the van rocks HARD and pulls way too much weight off of a rear wheel and it just spins. I only have 2wd and no locker, and legit and larger M&S tires have helped a LOT but it's still really bad, like worse than my saturn on snow tires for sure. 

https://www.off-road.com/blog/4x4-sprinter-vans-the-ultimate-adventure-rig-/

https://hiconsumption.com/best-adventure-vans/

https://gearjunkie.com/camper-rv/2021-winnebago-revel-camper-van-sprinter

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

I’ve been full time in a van longer than most people (six years in January). Why the fuck do y’all care so much about how other people do it? So what if they trust funded their way into it? It doesn’t affect you any more than someone sleeping in a Civic would.

Why the fuck do you care that other people care so much? I think most people have laid it out pretty clearly that the hate stems from jealously in many.

As far as your last comment goes…the difference is everyone respects the true dirtbag sleeping in their civic ;)

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

You’re basically using the I’m rubber you’re glue logic. Did I start a thread solely about bitching about van life? No, I didn’t.

I’ll do the van life version of asking bout your tics; how long you lived in a van?? I’m basically a 5.13 van dweller, hbu brah?

You didn’t, but took the same amount of time as everyone else to bitch, no? I was calling the kettle black more than anything. 

But it’s 2021, everyone climbs 5.13 (and lives in a van) so I’m severely underwhelmed by your van life accomplishments #gumby

Not Hobo Greg, it's not the van or whatever, it is where & how they choose to do it & park it.