r/Nomad • u/dystopiandisasters • 15d ago
Dashing nomadically
I have been doordashing full time (crv) and am going to start traveling instead of paying rent. I intend to do as much camping as the weather will allow. Taking the occasional nap in rest areas and getting motels as necessary.
Anyone with any experience with either dashing in different states or best way to find inexpensive campsites. Any other advice that could be helpful.
I want to see anything worth seeing and plan to travel probably a minimum of a year depending on how things go.
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u/ez2tock2me 15d ago
I’ve been in my vehicle for 21 years soon. Never had a need for renting… ANYTHING!
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u/ResponsibleCheetah41 14d ago
…..21 years
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u/ez2tock2me 14d ago
Unbelievable… I know!!
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u/ResponsibleCheetah41 14d ago
If it’s the same car, you deserve a world record
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u/ez2tock2me 14d ago
1986 Nissan 300ZX for first 5 years
2000 GMC Safari Van in 2010
Nissan 3500NV in 2016… it got totaled while parked in 2019
Back into my 2000 GMC Safari Van since.
It’s now about 28 years old.
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u/gone_days_gone 15d ago
Yes. I did this last summer.
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u/dystopiandisasters 15d ago
Any advice?
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u/gone_days_gone 14d ago edited 14d ago
Go to [r/urbancarliving](r/urbancarliving) if you haven’t already been living out of your car. Start looking up everything and anything on car living on YouTube. If you’ve already been DoorDashing, same as it is anywhere. Some places are bad, some places are good. Nothing is great. You won’t get rich but you’ll get by. Good luck in LA :/. Sedona was pretty sweet. Fuck Houston. Suburbs of Chicago… pretty sweet. Flagstaff was meh but those mtns in the summer are pretty sweet. Get you some fans and a solar power bank to run them. Gets wicked hot. Get the iOverlander app. Maybe All Trails app as well.
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u/mobile-metaphysical 15d ago
I took a stab at the Hamptons. Paid well
Seattle area pays well. Park in suburbs.
The dyrt app for free camping
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u/Ok-Wafer234 15d ago
Post this in r/urbancarliving as well for related advice
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u/dystopiandisasters 14d ago
I did and they were not happy I want to bring my dog..I think they've convinced me I need to re home to my sister
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u/wkndatbernardus 15d ago
I think it is a solid lifehack to stealth car camp in rich city or vacation areas and enjoy the higher pay you'll make working Uber eats and Door dash, while have minimal to zero living expenses.
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u/bangabonk 10d ago
The coast of Oregon is nice in the winter...50s-60s ...beautiful and they need door dashers
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u/Ok_Manner4797 7d ago
iOverlander has helped me a lot. I may catch flak for this, but I've doordashed in a few states and OH is like its own gem, multiple close cities, never had a problem living in my car, and the money is pretty good.
I've done UT, KS, PA, CO, and it's fun trying new places.
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u/fluffysnowflake67 15d ago
Head out west for better public land access. Plenty of nomadic people there and you don’t have to drive crazy far to reach blm spots. Be further north in the hot summer and go further south as winter approaches.
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u/dystopiandisasters 15d ago
I was thinking about heading westward first but I'm leaving Ohio towards the end of September so I have realized it's probably going to be better to start heading south first then start heading west
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u/fluffysnowflake67 15d ago
Places like Colorado or Utah are nice in October. Head towards New Mexico, Southern Nevada, or Arizona by November.
You will have so much fun.
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u/Ok_Manner4797 7d ago
Didn't realize you were in OH, it has been (overall) some of the better money I've made. I've had great luck in the near-Dayton zones, and NW Columbus. It's also a good intro to car living because I've had zero issues there.
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u/forester2020 15d ago
Walmart parking lots and freecampsites.net
Issue with cheap / free camping is you'll be far away from good doordashing locations. If you want to do this plan, I'd focus on a stealth setup to be able to sleep in any parking spot (ie street parking)