05/10/2022
The past couple of months I tried out a “mobile vansmith” thing where I travelled around and showed up at peoples rigs and worked on them for a few days or a week or so. Here’s a photo dump of some the of the work I did. It was a lot of electrical work and solar installs, Maxxair air fans and some cabinetry and windows.
There’s definitely a need for this kind of work in the DIY world -with a lot of companies being booked out for months, and most of them not wanting to deal with smaller jobs. It’s also pretty beneficial for the van owner to not have to drop the van off at a shop (especially if it’s just a small job lasting only a day or 2) and for them to get to see the work getting done in person and along side the builder. People were very appreciative that I was so accessible and able to talk them through many other aspects of their build, besides just the parts that I was hired to do. They tended to return the favor with their generosity and hospitality, which I really appreciated.
Aside from a lot of stuff breaking on my trailer and diesel being $7 a gallon, it was a neat experience. Working in one of the highest costs of living places in the county was a potent reminder of the whole spectrum of van livin’, vehicle dwelling, etc, - from being basically homeless and forced into vanlife out of necessity to weekend instagram vanlifers with luxury $150k+ totally unnecessary decked out rigs. I find that “my people” tend to lie on the poorer end of that spectrum, and I want to keep doing what I can to remain accessible to those who really need it. The funny thing is that those who didn’t have a lot were ALWAYS the ones to make me food or bring me coffee while I worked. While the clients with a lot to give in fact weren’t all that giving - it’s a trend I’ve noticed before.
Anyway I’m excited to be back at the shop again. I’ve got a gnarly box truck build in the works that is seriously pushing the limits of what I thought I was I’m capable of, and a horse trailer after that.
To everyone that employed me and fed me lunch during this weird experiment of mine, thank you!!!
